Effect of respiratory exercises on neck pain patients: A pilot study

IntroductionNeck exercises are reported to improve the patient's conditions in chronic neck pain (CNP). However, the existence of pain and loss of range of motion often results in CNP. As a result, respiratory functions are compromised and extended rehabilitation may be required for respiratory parameters among these populations.AimThe purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of respiratory exercises on respiratory muscle endurance, cervical range of motion and chest expansion after a set of prescribed respiratory exercise procedure among CNP.Material and methodsTen patients with CNP participated in this study. Subjects were divided randomly into either an experimental group, which received respiratory exercises or a control group, which received a routine physiotherapy exercises. The outcome measures such as pain, respiratory muscle endurance, cervical range of motion and chest expansion were assessed before and eight weeks following treatment by an assessor blinded to the treatment allocation of the patient.Results and discussionThere was a highly significant increase in maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) scores from before (mean 34.88, SD 21.81) to after treatment (mean 55.10, SD 16.76 and t-value 6.48) with P = 0.003 in the experimental group as compared to control group from before (mean 38.32, SD 19.50) to after treatment (mean 39.74, SD 17.56 and t-value 0.845) with P = 0.446. The two sets of scores in the active flexion and for the visual analogue scale also showed significant difference in the experimental group P < 0.05.ConclusionsRespiratory exercise contributes to improvement in respiratory muscle endurance and reduces pain who is enduring from CNP.