---
title: Is neck and shoulder pain common after birth, and what increases the risk?
description: Yes, 73.1% of women had neck and shoulder pain one month after birth. Women who had previous PMS, anemia during pregnancy, more breastfeeding, and worse mood
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-prevalence-of-primary-neck-and-shoulder-pain-and-its-related-factors-in-2015/
---

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- Is neck and shoulder pain common after birth, and what increases the risk?

Survey study, 2015

# Is neck and shoulder pain common after birth, and what increases the risk?

Yes, 73.1% of women had neck and shoulder pain one month after birth. Women who had previous PMS, anemia during pregnancy, more breastfeeding, and worse mood had higher rates, though this is observational so causation is not proven.

 Moderate study design

308 Japanese women, one month postpartum

## What they did

308 Japanese women answered questions about neck and shoulder pain one month after delivery. The researchers measured their mood using a standard questionnaire (POMS-B).

## What they found

73.1% had neck and shoulder pain, most commonly in the shoulder muscles. One-fourth of cases started after birth. Pain was linked to previous PMS, anemia, longer breastfeeding time, and higher fatigue, confusion, anger, and depression scores.

## What it means for you

Neck and shoulder pain is very common after birth and is linked to having had PMS. The study was limited to Japan and measured women only once, one month postpartum, so we don't know how pain changes over time.

73.1%

had neck and shoulder pain

one-fourth

pain occurred after birth

## About the study

Original title The prevalence of primary neck and shoulder pain, and its related factors in Japanese postpartum women Authors Koyasu K, Kinkawa M, Ueyama N et al. Journal Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology Year 2015 Study design Survey study Participants 308 What was tested None - observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.12891/ceog1809.2015](https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog1809.2015)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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