Prevalence of Upper Back Pain Including Neck Pain Among College Going Students

Abstract:

Introduction- Upper back pain & neck pain is increasingly common among college students due to sedentary lifestyles, poor posture, and excessive screen time. Early identification of disability levels is essential to prevent long-term musculoskeletal problems.

The aim and objective - To determine the prevalence of upper back pain including neck pain among college-going students using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and to explore its association with lifestyle factors.

Need of study – The Need of study is to investigate the Prevalence of upper back pain including neck pain among college going students.

Methodology &Outcome measures - A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 60 college students. The NDI questionnaire was used to assess the level of neck-related functional disability. Participants with vertebral artery insufficiency, spinal trauma, deformity, radiating pain, or a history of neck surgery were excluded.

Results - Out of 60 participants, 29 (48.3%) reported varying degrees of neck-related disability, while 31 (51.7%) reported no disability. The NDI demonstrated high reliability and internal consistency for this population. Trends suggested a possible association between disability and prolonged screen time or poor posture.

Conclusion- The study reveals a high prevalence of upper back pain & neck pain - related disability among college students. These findings highlight the need for early preventive strategies, including posture education and lifestyle modification, to reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in young adults.

Upper back pain, neck pain, neck disability index, posture, ergonomics, sedentary lifestyle

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