Systematic Review• A sensitive search was conducted using

PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase adhering to PRISMA guidelines

Inclusion Criteria• Age under 18 years old• Musculoskeletal neck pain• Any intervention or treatment provided by

physical therapists• English language• Any outcome measure that reported disability,

function, or pain• Any and all published literature: randomized

controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, cohort studies, case reports, editorials, and commentaries

Exclusion Criteria• Developmental disorders• Headache with neck pain• Traumatic neck pain

ConclusionsBackground Results

Acknowledgements/ References

Methods

Physical Therapy Management of Pediatric and Adolescent Neck Pain: A Call to Action

Kristen Dragotta SPT, Byoungjoon Jang SPT, Brianna Quinzi SPT, Anthony Bosco SPT, Dr. Derek Clewley PT, DPT, PhD

Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Orthopaedics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Clinical Relevance

Purpose

• Prevalence of pediatric and adolescent neck pain estimates as high as 40%1

• Neck pain ranked 8th in terms of most years lived with disability for adolescents1

• No current clinical practice guidelines

5,115 Abstracts

124 Full Text

2 Included Studies

• Same authorship team• Same intervention: Pain Neuroscience

Education (PNE) plus deep neck muscle exercises

• N = 21 participants• Age: 15 -18 years old (adolescent)

• PNE plus deep neck flexor and extensor strengthening may have some benefit

• Findings are often extrapolated for pediatric and adolescent neck pain management

• Different management strategies may be necessary due to biopsychosocial differences between children and adults

• Limited evidence = CALL TO ACTION for clinicians to perform further research in this population

• Minimal clinical evidence to support PNE• Shortage of published literature limits the

ability for clinicians to confidently provide appropriate evidence-based care for this population

• These findings suggest a significant amount of literature is needed for this population including RCTs, cohort studies, case series, and case reports

We would like to thank Emily Mazure and Leila Ledbetter, MLIS for their help on this project.

1. Fares, J., Fares, M. Y., & Fares, Y. (2017). Musculoskeletal neck pain in children and adolescents: Risk factors and complications. Surg Neurol Int, 8, 72.

2. Andias, R., Neto, M., & Silva, A. G. (2018). The effects of pain neuroscience education and exercise on pain, muscle endurance, catastrophizing and anxiety in adolescents with chronic idiopathic neck pain: a school-based pilot, randomized and controlled study. Physiother Theory Pract, 34(9), 682-691.

3. Neto, M., Andias, R., & Silva, A. G. (2018). Pain Neuroscience Education and Exercise for Neck Pain: A Focus Group Study on Adolescents' Views. Pediatr Phys Ther, 30(3), 196-201.

NO published literature on children under the age of 15 years old

• Randomized Controlled Trial

• 48% reported a definite improvement2

• Pain score (VAS) was non-significant2

• Qualitative Study• Participants perceived

relevance of acquired knowledge and perceived adequacy of intervention with respect to PNE3

• To identify and review literature on physical therapy management of pediatric and adolescent neck pain

https://www.supercoder.com/coding-newsletters/my-pediatric-coding-alert/reader-question-be-thorough-with-neck-sprain-dx-154031-article