Are respiratory disorders risk factors for troublesome neck/shoulder pain? A study of a general population cohort in Sweden

Abstract

Purpose The etiology of neck/shoulder pain is complex. Our purpose was to investigate if respiratory disorders are risk factors for troublesome neck/shoulder pain in people with no or occasional neck/shoulder pain. Methods This prospective cohort study was based on the Stockholm Public Health Cohorts (SPHC) 2006/2010 and the SPHC 2010/2014. We included adults who at baseline reported no or occasional neck/shoulder pain in the last six months, from the two subsamples (SPHC 06/10 n = 15 155: and SPHC 2010/14 n = 25 273). Exposures were self-reported asthma at baseline in SPHC 06/10 and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at baseline in SPHC 10/14. The outcome was having experienced at least one period of troublesome neck/shoulder pain which restricted work capacity or hindered daily activities to some or to a high degree during the past six months, asked for four years later. Binomial regression analyses were used to calculate risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results Adjusted results indicate that those reporting to suffer from asthma at baseline had a higher risk of troublesome neck/shoulder pain at follow-up four years later (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.10–2.01) as did those reporting to suffer from COPD (RR 2.12 95%CI 1.54–2.93). Conclusion Our findings indicate that those with no or occasional neck/shoulder pain and reporting to suffer from asthma or COPD increase the risk for troublesome neck/shoulder pain over time. This highlights the importance of taking a multi-morbidity perspective into consideration in health care. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Asthma Is Associated with Back Pain and Migraine—Results of Population-Based Case–Control Study

“…As demonstrated in multiple studies in different countries, the prevalence of LBP is clearly higher in women (60% vs. 40%) [28]. Migraine, which affects 12.6% of the general population, is more than twice as prevalent in women (17.2% vs. 8%) [29], and NP affects more women in all age groups [12].…”

“…Neck pain (NP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, with an estimated prevalence of around 10-20% in adults [7]. Few studies have evaluated the association between asthma and NP [10][11][12][13][14]. A recent study suggests that patients with asthma have a higher risk of NP over time [12], and it offers several explanations for this hypothesis.…”

“…Few studies have evaluated the association between asthma and NP [10][11][12][13][14]. A recent study suggests that patients with asthma have a higher risk of NP over time [12], and it offers several explanations for this hypothesis. First, the frequent and intense coughing, which sometimes occurs during asthma attacks, can cause muscle tension in the neck area, leading to pain.…”

“…First, the frequent and intense coughing, which sometimes occurs during asthma attacks, can cause muscle tension in the neck area, leading to pain. Second, the hypertension of the accessory respiratory muscles that connect the neck and thoracic cage can increase the risk of NP [11][12][13]. Finally, chronic neck and shoulder pain is significantly more severe in patients with asthma than in those who do not have asthma [14].…”

Effects of Pilates Exercises on Core Stability After Recovery from COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In chronic respiratory disease and during induced hypercapnia, postural activation of these muscles is impaired. 10 A recent systematic review found that there is not much research on non-drug treatments for post-viral syndromes and COVID-19. The reviewers found randomized clinical trials that were done in 2021 that looked at music therapy, telerehabilitation, resistance therapy, and neuromodulation, but they did not look at all the symptoms experienced in these cases, focusing only on dyspnea, arthralgia, general pain, and quality of life.…”