Primary prevention
Spontaneous degenerative changes of the spine are not preventable, and they progress relentlessly with age in almost all populations studied. However, the presence or absence of degenerative changes on radiographs and MRI studies does not necessarily correlate with axial neck pain.[1]Matsumoto M, Fujimura Y, Suzuki N, et al. MRI of cervical intervertebral discs in asymptomatic subjects. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1998 Jan;80(1):19-24.
https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/pdf/10.1302/0301-620X.80B1.0800019
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9460946?tool=bestpractice.com
[3]Braga-Baiak A, Shah A, Pietrobon R, et al. Intra- and inter-observer reliability of MRI examination of intervertebral disc abnormalities in patients with cervical myelopathy. Eur J Radiol. 2008 Jan;65(1):91-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17532165?tool=bestpractice.com
[4]Siivola SM, Levoska S, Tervonen O, et al. MRI changes of cervical spine in asymptomatic and symptomatic young adults. Eur Spine J. 2002 Aug;11(4):358-63.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12193998?tool=bestpractice.com
Some activities may worsen axial neck pain (e.g., occupational positions, neck positions while sleeping, chronic injury from heavy lifting, and strains), although data are incomplete on these associations.