Prevalence of Neck Pain in Undergraduate Medical Students of Lahore with Prolonged Study Habit

Abstract

Background: Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint among medical students due to academic stress and prolonged sedentary study habits. Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of neck pain among undergraduate medical students in Lahore and assess its association with daily study duration using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 131 undergraduate students aged 18–26 years from MBBS, BDS, and DPT programs through non-probability convenience sampling at Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College, Lahore. Inclusion criteria encompassed students without prior neck surgery, congenital deformities, or cervical trauma. Participants completed the NDI questionnaire, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed prevalence, severity, and association with study hours. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: Neck pain was reported by 39.7% of students, with higher prevalence in females (69.2%). Mild disability was most common (59.6%), with only one case of complete disability. Study duration showed no statistically significant association with neck pain (χ² = 0.899, p = 0.412), although the 2–4 hour study group reported the highest symptom frequency. Conclusion: Neck pain is prevalent among medical students, disproportionately affecting females, and frequently manifests as mild disability. Study duration alone may not be a significant predictor, highlighting the need for ergonomic and psychosocial interventions in academic settings to mitigate neck-related disability.