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Table 2 Pain prevalence and physical test performance for males and females

From: Fitness, motor competence and body composition as correlates of adolescent neck/shoulder pain: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Pain variable

All Participants % (count) with history of pain

Male % (count) with history of pain

Female % (count) with history of pain

Gender difference

    

χ2

P

NSP ever

46.8

41.9

52.0

16.3

<0.001

NSP in last month

28.7

22.9

34.7

27.1

<0.001

Chronic NSP

8.2

6.8

9.8

4.8

0.029

Diagnosed NSP

7.1

6.9

7.2

0.05

0.828

Physical variable

All Participants mean (sd)

Males mean (sd)

Females mean (sd)

Gender difference

    

t df(unless stated otherwise)

P

Height

1.64 (0.08)

1.66 (0.09)

1.62 (0.06)

-0.421598

<0.001

Weight

57.7 (13.2)

58.6 (14.1)

56.7 (12.1)

-1.921599

0.004

BMI

21.29 (4.15)

21.05 (4.14)

21.53 (4.16)

2.301598

0.022

Waist girth (cm)

75.5 (10.8)

76.3 (11.4)

74.6 (10.1)

-3.151579

0.002

Arm circumference (cm)

25.2 (3.3)

25.3 (3.4)

25.1 (3.3)

-1.171599

0.244

PWC 170 score (W)

111.2 (29.9)

124.3 (31.7)

97.2 (19.9)

-19.601501

<0.001

Back muscle endurance (seconds)

80.9 (60.4)

77.8 (60.1)

84.2 (60.5)

2.121574

0.034

Abdominal muscle endurance (number of curls in 3 min)

21.4 (17.4)

25.4 (18.8)

17.2 (14.6)

-9.601569

<0.001

Standing long jump distance (metres)

1.46 (0.29)

1.59 (0.28)

1.32 (0.23)

-20.901588

<0.001

Basketball throw (metres)

5.3 (1.0)

5.7 (1.0)

4.8 (0.7)

-21.721583

<0.001

Total Hand strength – right and left combined (kg)

51.8 (13.5)

57.0 (14.8)

46.3 (9.1)

-17.201597

<0.001

Shoulder stretch (L) (%able)

88.9%

84.7%

92.8%

χ2 = 26.1

1 <0.001

NDI score

97.2 (17.4)

97.3 (18.1)

97.0 (16.6)

-0.311576

0.741

Persistent control factor score

103.3 (25.4)

99.9 (26.4)

106.8 (23.7)

5.441594

<0.001

Muscle Power factor score

95.9 (20.2)

102.4 (19.8)

89.2 (18.5)

-13.791583

<0.001

Kinaesthetic Integration factor score

96.9 (15.2)

96.7 (15.7)

97.2 (14.7)

0.681596

0.501

Bimanual Dexterity factor score

97.1 (19.3)

95.1 (19.3)

99.1 (19.1)

4.091598

<0.001

  1. Females had more NSP ever (P < 0.001, χ2 = 16.26), more NSP in the past month (P < 0.001, χ2 = 27.11) and more chronic NSP (P = 0.029, χ2 = 4.75). There were significant gender differences for height and weight and all physical characteristics (P < 0.05) except arm circumference, kinaesthetic integration and the NDI score.
  2. *P < 0.1, **P < 0.05, ***P < 0.01. OR = Odds Ratio, 95%CI = 95% confidence interval, IQR = interquartile range, NDI = neurodevelopmental index, MP = muscle power, PC = persistent control, BD = bimanual dexterity, PWC = Physical Work Capacity.
  3. 1 group unable to do stretch is compared to group able to do stretch.