The study of respiratory muscles activation during respiratory muscle strength effort in adult females with chronic neck pain.
Sudarat Borisut, Anong Tantisuwat, Chitanong Gaogasigam
PMID 34539075WHAT IT FOUND
Women with chronic neck pain generated lower maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures than healthy controls.
They recruited upper trapezius, anterior scalene, and intercostal muscles more heavily during breathing efforts, suggesting inefficient respiratory mechanics linked to cervical musculoskeletal changes.
Key findings
01Participants with chronic neck pain had significantly lower maximum inspiratory pressure (75.26 vs 88.40 cmH2O) and maximum expiratory pressure (84.00 vs 94.30 cmH2O) compared to healthy controls.
02During maximum inspiratory efforts, chronic neck pain participants showed significantly higher muscle activity in the upper trapezius, anterior scalene, and 6th intercostal muscles on both sides compared to healthy controls.
03During maximum expiratory efforts, chronic neck pain participants showed significantly higher activity in the upper trapezius and 6th intercostal muscles on both sides, but not in the anterior scalene or pectoralis major.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only female participants, so results may not apply to men. Sample size was small (20 per group), limiting generalizability. The cross-sectional design cannot prove that neck pain causes respiratory dysfunction or vice versa. sEMG measures surface muscle activity, which may not fully distinguish deep from superficial muscle contributions in the neck.
Declared interests
Funded by the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Projects Fund, Chulalongkorn University. No potential conflicts of interest were reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that neck pain directly causes respiratory muscle weakness in all patients. The study shows an association in a specific group of young female office workers, but it does not prove causation, and the mechanisms may differ in older adults or men.