Functional outcome of nonspecific neck pain in patients after 1 year of conservative treatment in Northern Tanzania
Tusal Mavji Patel, Honest Massawe, Rogers Temu, Shahnoor Ruhulamin Saiyed, Peter Mrimba Magembe, Hashmita MavjiBackground:
Non-specific neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can lead to significant functional impairment and a reduced quality of life. Conservative treatment modalities, including pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy, are widely used as first-line management strategies; however, data on long-term functional outcomes in many clinical settings remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of patients with non-specific neck pain following 1 year of conservative treatment using the Neck Disability Index (NDI).
Methods:
This hospital-based cross-sectional study included adults with non-specific neck pain attending orthopedic/physiotherapy outpatient clinics between 2023 and 2024. Baseline NDI scores were compared with 1-year follow-up scores. Demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, occupation, symptom duration, pain intensity, and treatment modality, were collected. Conservative treatments included pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, or a combination. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26, with
Results:
Of 138 patients with baseline NDI scores, 115 completed the 1-year follow-up. Most were females of age 45–64 years and engaged in small-scale farming. Functional disability improved overall, with an increased proportion in the mild disability category and decreases in the severe, crippled, and bed-bound categories. Patients receiving combined pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy showed the greatest improvement. Older age, longer symptom duration, and higher pain intensity were associated with persistent disability.
Conclusion:
Conservative treatment significantly improves functional outcomes in patients with non-specific neck pain over a 1-year period. Combined therapy, consisting of pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy, appears to provide greater improvement in disability scores compared with single treatment modalities. Early initiation of treatment and multidisciplinary management may help optimize recovery and reduce long-term disability among patients with non-specific neck pain.