Objective To study the TCM pattern characteristics of neck pain in youth.Methods Mehtodology of clinical epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted.A 70-item questionnaire involving daily habits

neck and shoulder pain and general condition was designed

and 137college students with neck pain answered the questionnaires.Data obtained from the survey was analyzed with descriptive statistical analysis and factor analysis.Results The descriptive statistical analysis showed that the top 15symptoms were fatigue

dry eye

neck soreness

neck stiffness

vision loss

depression

head heaviness

dreaminess

blurred vision

dry mouth and throat

headache

irritability

forgetfulness

shortage of qi and laziness to speak.Eleven common factors were extracted and the cumulative percent variance reached 67.64%.The pattern element of factor 1was qi stagnation and blood stasis with local lesion.The pattern element of factor 2was wind cold obstructing the network vessels and the disease location was spleen.The pattern element of factor 3

5and 7was spleen deficiency exuberant dampness and the disease location was spleen.The pattern element of factor 4

6

9

10and 11 was liver depression transforming into fire and the disease location was liver.The pattern element of factor 8was heart-kidney qi-yin deficiency and the disease location was heart and kidney.Conclusion The disease location of neck pain in youth is local channel sinew.The major elements of disease nature are qi stagnation

blood stasis

wind cold

liver depression

spleen deficiency and exuberant dampness.The basic pathogenesis is qi stagnation blood stasis

wind-cold obstructing the network vessels

liver depression transforming into fire and spleen deficiency exuberant dampness.