Pulmonary function of patients with chronic neck pain: a spirometry study

Background Chronic neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain conditions experienced by many people during their lives. Although patients with neck pain are managed predominantly as musculoskeletal patients, there are indications that they also have poor pulmonary function. The aim of this study was to examine whether patients with chronic neck pain have spirometric abnormalities and whether neck pain problems and psychological states are associated with these abnormalities.

Methods Forty five participants with chronic neck pain and 45 well-matched healthy controls were recruited. Spirometry was used for assessing participants’ pulmonary function. Neck muscle strength, endurance of deep neck flexors, cervical range of movement, forward head posture, psychological states, disability and pain intensity were also evaluated.

Results The results showed that patients with chronic neck pain yielded significantly reduced vital capacity, forced vital capacity (FVC), expiratory reserve volume and maximal voluntary ventilation (p<0.05) but peak expiratory flow, Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁) and FEV₁/FVC ratio were not affected (p>0.05). Strength of neck muscles, pain intensity and kinesiophobia were found to be significantly correlated (r>0.3, p<0.05) with their respiratory function.

Conclusions Patients with chronic neck pain do not have optimal pulmonary function. Cervical spine muscle dysfunction in parallel with pain intensity and kinesiophobia are factors that are mainly associated with this respiratory dysfunction.