WikiMSK:Featured Article/1 April 2025

Featured Wiki Article for 1 April 2025

Acute Neck Pain Natural History

This article serves as an update to Chapter 4 of "Management of Acute and Chronic Neck Pain: An Evidence-based Approach," by Bogduk and McGuirk published in 2006.[1] Understanding the natural history of neck pain remains fundamentally important for two key reasons.

It establishes a baseline against which the effectiveness of any intervention must be judged. If the natural course of the condition is inherently favorable, this improvement over time may account for a substantial portion of the perceived benefit derived from treatment.
Knowledge of a typically favorable natural history allows clinicians to provide evidence-based reassurance to patients, which can itself be a powerful therapeutic intervention.

Neck pain is a globally prevalent condition, affecting roughly one-third of adults annually, with women often reporting it more frequently. It significantly contributes to the global burden of disease and disability. Since the original publication of this chapter in 2006, the evidence base concerning the natural course and prognosis of neck pain has expanded considerably. While acute episodes of neck pain are often self-limiting for many individuals, the perspective presented in 2006 suggesting a generally favorable prognosis requires refinement. More recent epidemiological data indicate that while initial improvement is common, a substantial proportion of individuals experience persistent or recurrent symptoms long after the acute phase.[2] - Read More

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