Objective To investigate the differences of spinal curvature, thoracic sagittal mobility, and respiratory strength between patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) and people without cervical pain, and to determine the correlation between respiratory strength and thoracic mobility in CNP patients.Methods A total of 78 participants were finally included in this study, of whom 30 had no cervical pain and 48 had CNP. The Neck Disability Index (NDI), cervical lordotic curvature, thoracic kyphotic curvature, thoracic sagittal range of motion (ROM), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured and analyzed.Results In males, thoracic sagittal ROM_MEP-MIP and MEP showed a significant difference between the no cervical pain group and the CNP group. In females, thoracic kyphotic curvature, thoracic sagittal ROM_MEP-MIP, MIP, and MEP were significantly different between the no cervical pain group and the CNP group. Thoracic kyphotic curvature was significantly correlated with MEP and MIP in all population groups, and significantly correlated with NDI in the female group. Thoracic sagittal ROM_MEP-MIP had a significant linear relationship with NDI, MEP, and MIP in all population groups.Conclusion The thoracic mobility during forced respiration was reduced in patients with CNP and was correlated with respiratory strength. Changes in the biomechanics of the cervicothoracic spine and rib cage due to CNP may contribute to impairment of respiratory strength.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been widely used in gynecology and believed as a safe, effective, nonsurgical modality for treating uterine fibroids. A 36-year-old woman had a HIFU treatment owing to uterine adenomyosis and experienced pain, motor weakness of around right lower extremity and pelvis. The electrodiagnostic study suggested right lumbar plexopathy and sacral radiculopathy.

To evaluate oxygenation and metabolic state of the non-brainstem stroke patients after the moderate intensity exercise using arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA). Fifty-two stroke patients were recruited. All the subjects were to follow the instructions for the exercise, not suffered cardiopulmonary diseases before, and not diagnosed with brainstem disorders. They were ordered to maintain 70% heart rate of maximal heart rate during exercise and checked blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate (RR), and ABGA before and after the exercise, respectively. O 2 saturation, PaO 2 , PaCO 2 , O 2 content, HCO 3 − , pH, and anion gap were compared between the exercise, and those data changes were performed correlation analysis into age and the time after stroke onset. The data comparison was also done into the subgroup of the severity of stroke using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The statistically significant results were observed in the change of O 2 saturation, PaO 2 , PaCO 2 , O 2 content, HCO 3 − , pH, and anion gap after the exercise. The decrease of HCO 3 − and increase of RR were proportional to age, however the data showed no correlation with the NIHSS. These results suggest relatively preserved respiratory compensation mechanism and homeostatic effect to maintain metabolic balance among the non-brainstem stroke patients.

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