Clinical features of neck and shoulder pain (Katakori) in Japanese hospital workers
Akira Onda, Keiko Onozato, Masashi Kimura
Author information
Akira Onda Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zenshukai Hospital Department of Rehabilitation, Zenshukai Hospital
Keiko Onozato Department of Nursing, Zenshukai Hospital
Masashi Kimura Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zenshukai Hospital
Abstract
Background:Non-specific pain or discomfort in the neck and shoulder girdle, called katakori in Japanese, is a common, chronic musculoskeletal condition worldwide. However, its various clinical features are incompletely characterized, even among medical professionals. We aimed to clarify factors affecting katakori and to investigate objectively the associated neck muscle stiffness and skeletal muscle volume.
Methods:All staff members at our private hospital were surveyed about their lifestyle, physical and mental status, and katakori symptoms, using a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore possible katakori risk factors. On secondary assessment, ultrasound elastography of the trapezius muscle as well as limb/trunk muscle mass were compared between subjects with severe symptoms and subjects without katakori, using propensity score matching.
Results:Of 359 participants enrolled, nearly 75% had katakori to some degree. Spending time on a computer during work (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1.82 for 3-6 hours, aOR:2.48 for > 6 hours), being female (aOR:3.75), and having unsatisfactory sleep (aOR:2.92) were potential risk factors for katakori. Comparison of 13 matched pairs showed a significantly stiffer trapezius in subjects with severe katakori symptoms, but no apparent differences in limb/trunk muscle mass.
Conclusions:Katakori was particularly prevalent in our hospital staff. Possible risk factors for disabling katakori were doing long-term computer work, being female, and having unsatisfactory sleep. Symptoms seem to be associated with elevated neck muscle stiffness. These findings could guide working condition improvements to mitigate katakori.
Akagi R, Kusama S. Comparison between neck/shoulder stiffness determined by shear wave ultrasound elastography and a muscle hardness meter. Ultrasound Med Biol, 41:2266-2271, 2015.
Kawakubo A, Miyagi M, Fujimaki H, et al. Relationships between spinal alignment and muscle mass in osteoporosis patients over 75 years of age who were independent and maintained their activities of daily living. Cureus, 13:e15130, 2021.
Vogt MT, Simonsick EM, Harris TB, et al. Neck/shoulder pain in 70- to 79-year-old men and women:findings from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Spine J, 3:435-441, 2003.
Binderup AT, Arendt-Nielsen L, Madeleine P. Pressure pain sensitivity maps of the neck-shoulder and the low back regions in men and women. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 11:234, 2010.
Generaal E, Vogelzangs N, Penninx BW, Dekker J. Insomnia, sleep duration, depressive symptoms, and the onset of chronic multisite musculoskeletal pain. Sleep, 40, 2017.
Gustafsson ML, Laaksonen C, Aromaa M, Löyttyniemi E, Salanterä S. The prevalence of neck-shoulder pain, back pain and psychological symptoms in association with daytime sleepiness - a prospective follow-up study of school children aged 10 to 15. Scand J Pain, 18:389-397, 2018.
Cerezo-Téllez E, Torres-Lacomba M, Mayoral-Del Moral O, Sánchez-Sánchez B, Dommerholt J, Gutiérrez-Ortega C. Prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome in chronic non-specific neck pain:A population-based cross-sectional descriptive study. Pain Med, 17:2369-2377, 2016.