Neck pain causes respiratory dysfunction.

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Maurice Preter MD

See also the “Sore Neck Syndrome” described in Vietnamese refugees (reference posted on this blog). MP 
 
 
Med Hypotheses. 2007 Oct 22; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links
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Neck pain causes respiratory dysfunction.

Kapreli E, Vourazanis E, Strimpakos N.

Department of Physiotherapy, TEI Lamias, 3rd Km Old National Road Lamia, Athens, 35100 Lamia, Greece.

This paper describes a presumptive mechanism for the development of changes in respiratory function due to chronic neck pain. The patient with neck pain presents a number of factors that could constitute a predisposition of leading to a respiratory dysfunction: (a) the decreased strength of deep neck flexors and extensors, (b) the hyperactivity and increased fatigability of superficial neck flexors, (c) the limitation of range of motion, (d) the decrease in proprioception and disturbances in neuromuscular control, (e) the existence of pain and (f) the psychosocial influence of dysfunction. The possible connection of neck pain and respiratory function could have a great impact on various clinical aspects notably patient assessment, rehabilitation and pharmacological prescription.

PMID: 17959320 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]