Neck pain and endurance capacity of deep cervical flexor muscles in dental students: a cross-sectional analysis

AIM: This cross-sectional study explored associations between deep cervical flexor muscle endurance, Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) scores, and various demographic and clinical variables in dental students. METHODS: A total of 108 dental students (64 females, 44 males; mean age 21.71 ± 1.5 years) from second to fifth academic years were included (second-year: n = 16, third-year: n = 34, fourth-year: n = 34, fifth-year: n = 24). Data collected included demographic characteristics (age, gender, BMI), lifestyle factors (smoking, pain medication use), endurance levels of the deep cervical flexor muscles, and NPAD scores. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was found between endurance and age (r = - 0.32, p = 0.001). NPAD scores showed positive correlations with age (r = 0.28, p = 0.004) and VAS (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Female participants had significantly higher NPAD scores (mean 34.2 vs. 24.8, p = 0.003) and lower BMI (20.1 vs. 23.6 kg/m², p < 0.001) than males. Regression analysis indicated that female gender was significantly associated with higher NPAD scores (B = 8.59, 95% CI [1.81-15.37], p = 0.013). Fifth-year students had higher NPAD scores than second- and third-year students (38.5 vs. 25.1 and 27.3, p < 0.05), and lower VAS scores than fourth-year students (5.2 vs. 6.8, p = 0.02). Smoking and medication use showed no significant associations with the outcomes. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that age, gender, and academic year are associated with differences in cervical muscle endurance and neck pain-related disability among dental students. Further research may help clarify the role of these variables and inform strategies for promoting musculoskeletal health in this population.