Multimodal therapeutic intervention program associated with photobiomodulation therapy for individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain: protocol for a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a prevalent global musculoskeletal issue, significantly contributing to the loss of years of healthy life due to disability. Chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP) involves diverse symptoms impacting mobility and quality of life. While therapeutic exercises demonstrate efficacy, the role of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the additional effects of PBMT within a multimodal therapeutic intervention for CNNP. METHODS: A randomized, two-arm, controlled, blind clinical trial follows CONSORT and SPIRIT guidelines. Participants diagnosed with CNNP will receive a stand-alone multimodal therapeutic intervention or the same program with additional PBMT. The primary outcomes will be assessed by the functional disability identified through applying the NDI (Neck Disability Index). Secondary outcomes will be pain intensity during rest and active neck movement, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia, functionality, and disability assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks, and at a 4-week follow-up. Both groups receive pain education before personalized interventions, including resistance exercises, neuromuscular activities, mobility, and body balance. The PBMT group undergoes low-level light therapy. Intention-to-treat analysis, using linear mixed models, employs data presented as mean, standard deviation, and differences with a 95% confidence interval. Non-normally distributed variables transform. Statistical significance is set at 5%. DISCUSSION: This study addresses a critical gap in understanding the combined effects of PBMT and therapeutic exercises for CNNP. The findings aim to guide clinicians, researchers, and CNNP sufferers through rigorous methodology and diverse outcome assessments, offering valuable insights into evidence-based practices for CNNP management. Data confidentiality is maintained throughout, ensuring participant privacy during statistical analysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Effects of adding photobiomodulation to a specific therapeutic exercise program for the treatment of individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain, registration number: NCT05400473, on 2022-05-27.

A 36-Year-Old Male With Left-Sided Neck Pain and Progressive Dyspnea.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old male with no significant medical history presented to the ED with progressive left-sided neck and facial pain for the last 7 days. The patient also reported subjective fevers, chills, difficulty opening his mouth, and anorexia for the last 1 week. He denied cough, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, skin rashes, dysphagia, or odynophagia. He reported use of two to three 59.15 mL beers daily for the last 20 years. There was no recent travel or sick contact exposure. He did not report any TB exposure, IV drug use, or recent sexual encounters.

Sensorimotor tests in patients with neck pain and its associated disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current evidence regarding neck sensorimotor testing in individuals with neck pain, assess the differences between neck pain groups and healthy controls, and recognize factors that might affect test results. We performed the data search using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. We used a two-step screening process to identify studies. Furthermore, we screened the reference lists for additional studies. Hedges g was used to present the difference between neck pain groups and asymptomatic individuals. We assessed the quality of the studies using the QUADAS tool. The final review included 34 studies, of which 25 were related to the joint position error test, four to the smooth pursuit neck torsion test and six to the balance test. Our meta-analysis showed poorer joint-position sense, oculomotor function, and wider postural sway in individuals with neck pain than healthy controls. The size of the difference between the groups seemed to be influenced by the intensity of the pain and the presence of dizziness. Therefore, it might be helpful in future studies to differentiate patients with neck pain into subgroups based on their symptom and demographic profiles to assess other factors that significantly affect cervical sensorimotor control.

Diagnostic overshadowing: self-injurious behaviour as a manifestation of pain in the head and neck.

In the healthcare domain, diagnostic overshadowing is a concerning issue involving the erroneous attribution of physical symptoms to a patient's mental health, behavioural intricacies, or pre-existing disabilities. Individuals facing learning and communication challenges are particularly susceptible to this phenomenon, struggling to articulate or comprehend their experienced symptoms. Likewise, patients with autism spectrum disorder can have an escalated risk due to possible challenges in interpreting bodily cues. This article delves into the specialised care required for individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism, highlighting the pervasive risk of diagnostic overshadowing and the potential manifestation of pain as self-injurious behaviour in these patient groups. By underscoring the need to mitigate diagnostic overshadowing within dental practice, we advocate for reasonable adjustments in care delivery and comprehensive education of the dental team. Proficient tools for pain assessment and effective communication are emphasised to collectively improve the healthcare experience for these vulnerable patient cohorts.

Neurologic Approach to Radiculopathy, Back Pain, and Neck Pain.

Back pain and neck pain are common in clinical practice, but significant challenges and pitfalls exist in their diagnosis, treatment, and management. From the neurologic standpoint, cervical radiculopathy and lumbosacral radiculopathy are characterized by neck pain or back pain accompanied by sensory and motor symptoms in an arm or leg. The basic neurologic examination is vital, but testing like electromyography and MRI is often needed especially in cases that fail conservative management. Oral medications, injection-based therapies, physical therapy, and surgical evaluation all have a place in the comprehensive neurologic management of back and neck pain and associated radiculopathy.

Effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment based on movement system impairment in individuals with cervical pain: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Movement System Impairment (MSI) classification and treatment effectively diagnose and treat the individual with neck pain. There is a lacuna in the current neck pain management guidelines addressing movement-specific mechanical diagnosis. MSI is based on the movement-specific mechanical diagnosis and kinesiopathologic model. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the movement system impairment model among neck pain individuals. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Eighty-two participants were screened for eligibility; Sixty individuals fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized into the experimental group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). A total of 52 individuals completed the study, 26 in both groups. The experimental and the control group received treatment as recommended by the MSI model and clinical practice guideline (CPG) for neck pain with mobility deficits. All participants were assessed for pain intensity, cervical range of motion, deep cervical muscle strength, endurance, and disability at baseline and the end of 3rd week of treatment. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in pain intensity, cervical range of motion, cervical muscle strength, endurance, and disability with both groups at the end of 10 sessions of treatment spread over three weeks (p < 0.05). However, the experimental group (MSI) demonstrated more clinical benefits than CPG based neck mobility deficits treatment. CONCLUSION: The movement system impairment model may effectively diagnose and treat neck pain in individuals with mobility deficits. Future research is warranted to establish its long-term effect.

Chronic neck and low back pain from personal experiences: a written narrative approach.

Background: Chronic neck and low back pain are very common and have detrimental effects for people and society. In this study, we explore the experiences of individuals with neck and/or back pain using a written narrative methodology. Materials & methods: A total of 92 individuals explained their pain experience using written narratives. Narratives were analyzed through thematic analysis and text data mining. Results: Participants wrote about their experience in terms of pain characteristics, diagnosis process, pain consequences, coping strategies, pain triggers, well-being and future expectations. Text data mining allowed us to identify concurrent networks that were basically related with pain characteristics, management and triggers. Conclusion: Written narratives are useful to understand individuals' experiences from their point of view.

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Effects of scapular treatment on chronic neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a common public health problem that affects daily living activities and quality of life. There is biomechanical interdependence between the neck and scapula. Studies have shown that shoulder blade function might be related to chronic neck pain. We therefore evaluated the effects of scapular targeted therapy on neck pain and function in patients with CNP. METHODS: Databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid), Ovid, Web of Science, and Scopus, were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials published in English investigating treatment of the scapula for CNP before July 16, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 313 participants were included from 8 RCTs. Compared with those in the control group, the intervention in the scapular treatment group exhibited greater improvement in pain intensity (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 2.55; 95% CI = 0.97 to 4.13; P = 0.002), with moderate evidence. Subgroup analysis for pain intensity revealed a significant difference between the sexes, with only the female population (SMD = 6.23, 95% CI = 4.80 to 7.65) showing better outcomes than those with both sexes (SMD = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.56) (p < 0.00001). However, moderate evidence demonstrated no improvement in neck disability after scapular treatment (SMD of 0.24[-0.14, 0.62] of Neck Disability Index or Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire). No effect of scapular treatment was shown on the pressure pain threshold (PPT). The cervical range of motion (CROM) and electromyographic activity of neck muscles could not be conclusively evaluated due to limited support in the articles, and further study was needed. However, the patient's head forward posture appeared to be corrected after scapular treatment. CONCLUSION: Scapular therapy was beneficial for relieving pain intensity in patients with CNP, especially in women. Head forward posture might also be corrected with scapular therapy. However, scapular therapy may have no effect on the PPT or neck disability. However, whether scapular therapy could improve CROM and cervical muscle activation in patients with CNPs had not been determined and needed further study.

Inter-rater reliability of the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization diaphragm tests among individuals with non-specific low back pain and neck pain.

BACKGROUND: The Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) diaphragm test and intra-abdominal pressure regulation test (IAPRT) are qualitative clinical tests that assess postural stability provided by the diaphragm. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the diaphragm test and IAPRT between an experienced and novice DNS clinician among individuals with non-specific low back pain (LBP) and neck pain. METHODS: Forty-five participants with non-specific LBP and/or neck pain were assessed by an experienced and novice DNS physiotherapist in the diaphragm test and IAPRT, and scored on a visual analog scale (VAS) according to five different criteria. RESULTS: Moderate reliability was noted when assessing LBP and neck pain patients in the diaphragm test and IAPRT (p < 0.001). Moderate reliability also existed when assessing only LBP (p < 0.001) or neck pain (p = 0.002, p = 0.009) independently. Patients with lower pain (NPRS score of 5 or < ) demonstrated lower intra-class correlation coefficients, yet still moderate reliability in the diaphragm test (p = 0.004) and IAPRT (p = 0.001). Patients with higher pain (NPRS score of 6 or > ) demonstrated greater intra-class correlation coefficients, with the diaphragm test resulting in good reliability (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The diaphragm test and IAPRT demonstrate moderate reliability between an experienced and novice DNS clinician when evaluating LBP and neck pain patients, with a greater degree of reliability noted in patients suffering from higher reported pain.

Predicting mechanical neck pain intensity in computer professionals using machine learning: identification and correlation of key features.

Introduction: Mechanical neck pain has become prevalent among computer professionals possibly because of prolonged computer use. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neck pain intensity, anthropometric metrics, cervical range of motion, and related disabilities using advanced machine learning techniques. Method: This study involved 75 computer professionals, comprising 27 men and 48 women, aged between 25 and 44 years, all of whom reported neck pain following extended computer sessions. The study utilized various tools, including the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain measurement, anthropometric tools for body metrics, a Universal Goniometer for cervical ROM, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). For data analysis, the study employed SPSS (v16.0) for basic statistics and a suite of machine-learning algorithms to discern feature importance. The capability of the kNN algorithm is evaluated using its confusion matrix. Results: The "NDI Score (%)" consistently emerged as the most significant feature across various algorithms, while metrics like age and computer usage hours varied in their rankings. Anthropometric results, such as BMI and body circumference, did not maintain consistent ranks across algorithms. The confusion matrix notably demonstrated its classification process for different VAS scores (mild, moderate, and severe). The findings indicated that 56% of the pain intensity, as measured by the VAS, could be accurately predicted by the dataset. Discussion: Machine learning clarifies the system dynamics of neck pain among computer professionals and highlights the need for different algorithms to gain a comprehensive understanding. Such insights pave the way for creating tailored ergonomic solutions and health campaigns for this population.

Validity and reliability of the Balance Error Score System (BESS) Thai version in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain has been found to affect the somatosensory system, which can lead to impaired balance control. To assess the balance of patients with neck pain and other conditions, the balance error scoring system (BESS) is commonly used as a static balance measurement tool. However, this tool is seldom used in Thailand due to its English language format. OBJECTIVE: To translate and determine the content, convergent validity, and reliability of a Thai version of the BESS tool. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A process of cross-cultural adaptation was utilized to translate BESS into a Thai version, called BESS-TH. To assess content validity, five physical therapy lecturers specializing in the musculoskeletal field used BESS to measure balance in participants with neck pain. For the convergent validity process, 130 patients diagnosed with chronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP) were randomly assessed using four static balance tests (BESS, Single-leg balance test (SLBT), Romberg test, and Tandem stance test). For reliability, two assessors with varying years of work experience independently assessed videos of the participants twice using the BESS-TH, with a minimum 7-day interval between assessments. RESULTS: The BESS-TH used to assess balance of patients with neck pain demonstrated acceptable content validity (index of item objective congruence (IOC) = 0.87). The Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient was calculated between the BESS-TH and three other measures: the SLBT with eyes open and eyes closed, the Romberg test with eyes open and eyes closed, and the Tandem stance test with eyes open and Tandem stance test with eyes closed. The values obtained were as follows: -0.672, -0.712, -0.367, -0.529, -0.570, and -0.738, respectively. The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were 0.922 (95% CI = 0.864-0.956) and 0.971 (95% CI = 0.950-0.983), respectively. Minimum detectable change (MDC) for the total BESS score of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were 7.16 and 4.34 points, respectively. CONCLUSION: The BESS-Thai version was acceptable, reliable, and valid for evaluating balance performance in patients with CNSNP. This tool can be used and applied to clinically evaluate postural control in Thailand.

Neck pain, disability and mobile phone usage among physiotherapy students - a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Modern mobile devices have become tools used for educational, research, business or recreational purposes. Incorrect position during excessive use of a smartphone can lead to biomechanical changes, the most visible of which is the position of the head in protraction, characterized by the protrusion of the head and neck forward in relation to the shoulder girdle and trunk. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between disability, neck pain (NP), use of phones before bedtime, and hours of using smartphones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 146 physiotherapy students aged 18-26. Students were asked to complete pain surveys (VAS pain scale), and Neck Disability Index (NDI). Participants were also asked if their pain lasted longer than 3 months, how long they used their smartphone during the day, and whether they used it before bedtime. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between groups with and without neck pain regarding NDI score (p<0.001). Participants who suffered from neck pain longer than 3 months had greater NDI scores (p=0.03), greater intensity of symptoms (p=0.04), greater problems with reading (p<0.01) and driving (p=0.04) than participants who experienced pain for less than 3 months. Using phones before bedtime was related to problems with focusing (p<0.01). There were statistically significant correlations between the time of phone use and disability in terms of reading (p=0.04), focusing (p<0.001), work (p<0.001) and sleeping (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunctions associated with pain in the cervical section may affect the learning abilities of students and thus the acquisition of professional competencies. Not using a smartphone before bedtime is recommended, as it causes poorer concentration. The longer the time spent using the phone, the more significant the disability.

Assessment of the methodological, recommendation and reporting quality of global guidelines for neck pain and synthesis of evidence and recommendations: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Neck pain is a global health problem that can cause severe disability and a huge medical burden. Clinical practice guideline (CPG) is an important basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. A high-quality CPG plays a significant role in clinical practice. However, the quality of the CPGs for neck pain lacks comprehensive assessment. This protocol aims to evaluate the methodological, recommendation, reporting quality of global CPGs for neck pain and identify key recommendations and gaps that limit evidence-based practice. METHOD: CPGs from January 2013 to November 2023 will be identified through a systematic search on 13 scientific databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, etc) and 7 online guideline repositories. Six reviewers will independently evaluate the quality of CPGs for neck pain by using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation, the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-Recommendations Excellence and the Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare tools. Intraclass correlation coefficient will be used to test the consistency of the assessment. We will identify the distribution of evidence and recommendations in each evidence-based CPGs for neck pain and regrade the level of evidence and strength of recommendations by adopting the commonly used Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations system. The key recommendations based on high-quality evidence will be summarised. In addition, we will categorise CPGs by different characteristics and conduct a subgroup analysis of the results of assessment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No subjects will be involved in this systematic review, so there is no need for ethical approval. The finding of this review will be summarised as a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023417717.

The reliability and validity of a novel wearable inertial sensor to measure the cervical proprioception.

BACKGROUND: Proprioceptive function assessment is crucial in clinical practice for patients with chronic non-specific neck pain (CNNP) as it is a major issue affecting their condition. PURPOSE: To verify the reliability and validity of baiobit sensor in measuring the neck proprioceptive function of CNNP patients. METHODS: Fifty-three CNNP patients were recruited (36 females, 17 males; age range 21-60 years) and were assessed for cervical joint position error by two blinded raters using the Baiobit sensor and laser pointer devices. The second measurement was conducted by the same rater 48 h later. Intra and inter-rater reliability of the Baiobit sensor was evaluated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), while the validity of the Baiobit sensor was established using the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The Baiobit sensor demonstrated moderate to excellent intra-rater reliability in flexion, extension, left lateral flexion, right lateral flexion, and right rotation (ICCs=0.71∼0.85, 95 %CIs: 0.50∼0.91), left-rotation shows poor to good intra-rater reliability (ICC=0.56, 95 %CI: 0.25∼0.75). The Baiobit sensor also demonstrated moderate to excellent inter-rater reliability in flexion, extension, left lateral flexion, right lateral flexion, and right rotation (ICCs=0.80∼0.88, 95 %CIs: 0.65∼0.91), left-rotation shows poor to good intra-rater reliability (ICC=0.59, 95 %CI: 0.29∼0.76). Validity analysis showed that the Baiobit sensor had a range of low to high validity (r = 0.46∼0.88) for measuring cervical proprioception function, with lower validity observed in the left flexion direction. The Baiobit showed good absolute reliability with low SEM and MDC90 values (0.35°âˆ¼2.42°). CONCLUSION: The new device could be used as an alternative tool to evaluate neck proprioception.

Machine learning models for classifying non-specific neck pain using craniocervical posture and movement.

OBJECTIVE: Physical therapists and clinicians commonly confirm craniocervical posture (CCP), cervical retraction, and craniocervical flexion as screening tests because they contribute to non-specific neck pain (NSNP). We compared the predictive performance of statistical machine learning (ML) models for classifying individuals with and without NSNP using datasets containing CCP and cervical kinematics during pro- and retraction (CKdPR). DESIGN: Exploratory, cross-sectional design. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: In total, 773 public service office workers (PSOWs) were screened for eligibility (NSNP, 441; without NSNP, 332). METHODS: We set up five datasets (CCP, cervical kinematics during the protraction, cervical kinematics during the retraction, CKdPR and combination of the CCP and CKdPR). Four ML algorithms-random forest, logistic regression, Extreme Gradient boosting, and support vector machine-were trained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Model performance were assessed using area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score. To interpret the predictions, we used Feature permutation importance and SHapley Additive explanation values. RESULTS: The random forest model in the CKdPR dataset classified PSOWs with and without NSNP and achieved the best AUC among the five datasets using the test data (AUC, 0.892 [good]; F1, 0.832). The random forest model in the CCP dataset had the worst AUC among the five datasets using the test data [AUC, 0.738 (fair); F1, 0.715]. CONCLUSION: ML performance was higher for the CKdPR dataset than for the CCP dataset, suggesting that ML algorithms are more suitable than classical statistical methods for developing robust models for classifying PSOWs with and without NSNP.

Effects of sustained natural apophyseal glides versus rocabado 6 × 6 program in subjects with cervicogenic headache.

BACKGROUND: Cervicogenic headache is designated as the most common type of secondary headache that results from conditions affecting the neck's bony components, muscles, and intervertebral discs rather than the head itself. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to determine the effects of Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAGs) versus the Rocabado 6 × 6 program in subjects with cervicogenic headaches. METHODS: This study was a randomized clinical trial. The sample size was 38, and participants aged 20-60 years (mean age 40.22 ± 9.66) suffering from cervicogenic headaches were randomly allocated using the lottery method into two groups with 19 participants in each group. Assessment of subjects was done before starting treatment and by the end of the 8th week for all the variables. Outcome measures were the Neck Disability Index (NDI), 6-item Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), Flexion-Rotation test (FRT) to assess the rotation range of motion at the level of C1-C2 (goniometer) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for the intensity of pain. Data analysis was done by SPSS (IBM) 25. To check the normality of the data the Shapiro-Wilk test was used. RESULTS: In the Shapiro-Wilk test p-value of all the testing variables i.e. NDI, HIT-6 score, FRT and NPRS was > 0.05, data was normally distributed and parametric tests were used. Group A showed a considerable improvement (p < 0.05) in all variables compared to Group B, while within-group analysis of both groups shows that all outcome measures show significant results (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that both SNAGs and Rocabado's 6 × 6 exercises were effective for the treatment of cervicogenic headache but the effects of headache SNAG were superior and produced more improvement in intensity of headache, disability, frequency of headache, duration of headache as compared to Rocabado 6 × 6 exercises. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05865808 on date 19/05/2023.

Stimulated cervical afferent input increases postural instability in older people with chronic neck pain: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Several potential causes can impair balance in older people. The neck torsion maneuver may be useful in demonstrating impaired balance caused by the stimulation of cervical proprioceptive input. Whereas evidence suggests impaired standing balance in older people with chronic neck pain, balance impairment during the neck torsion position and its relationship with clinical characteristics have not yet been investigated in this population. The aims of this study were to investigate whether the neck torsion position could significantly influence balance responses in older people with chronic non-specific neck pain and to determine the relationships between the balance responses and characteristics of neck pain. METHODS: Sixty-eight older people (34 with chronic non-specific neck pain and 34 controls) participated in the study. Balance was tested using a force plate during comfortable stance with eyes open under four conditions: neutral head on a firm surface, neutral head on a soft surface, neck torsion to left and right on a firm surface and neck torsion to left and right on a soft surface. Balance outcomes were anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) displacements, sway area and velocity. Characteristics of neck pain were intensity, duration and disability. RESULTS: Overall, the neck pain group exhibited greater AP and ML displacements, sway area and velocity in the neck torsion position on firm and soft surfaces compared to controls (partial eta squared (η²p) = 0.06-0.15, p < 0.05). The neck pain group also had greater AP displacement, sway area and velocity in the neutral position on a soft surface compared to controls (η²p = 0.09-0.16, p < 0.05). For both groups, the neck torsion position displayed overall greater postural sway compared to the neutral position (η²p = 0.16-0.69, p < 0.05). There were no relationships between the postural sway outcomes and characteristics of neck pain (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The neck torsion maneuver, stimulating the receptors resulted in increased postural sway in older people, with a more pronounced effect in those with neck pain. The study provides evidence supporting the use of neck torsion for assessing impaired balance related to abnormal cervical input in older people with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Illness perceptions in people with chronic and disabling non-specific neck pain seeking primary healthcare: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Illness perceptions can affect the way people with musculoskeletal pain emotionally and behaviorally cope with their health condition. Understanding patients illness perceptions may help facilitate patient-centered care. The purpose of this study was to explore illness perceptions and the origin of those perceptions in people with chronic disabling non-specific neck pain seeking primary care. METHODS: A qualitative study using a deductive and inductive analytical approach was conducted in 20 people with persistent (> 3 months) and disabling (i.e., Neck Disability Index ≥ 15) neck pain. Using a semi-structured format, participants were interviewed about their illness perceptions according to Leventhal's Common Sense Model. Purposive sampling and member checking were used to secure validity of study results. RESULTS: Participants reported multiple symptoms, thoughts and emotions related to their neck pain, which continuously required attention and action. They felt trapped within a complex multifactorial problem. Although some participants had a broader biopsychosocial perspective to understand their symptoms, a biomedical perspective was dominant in the labelling of their condition and their way of coping (e.g., limiting load, building strength and resilience, regaining mobility, keep moving and being meaningful). Their perceptions were strongly influenced by information from clinicians. Several participants indicated that they felt uncertain, because the information they received was contradictory or did not match their own experiences. CONCLUSION: Most participants reported that understanding their pain was important to them and influenced how they coped with pain. Addressing this 'sense making process' is a prerequisite for providing patient-centered care.