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Purpose: To determine the differences in respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function between patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) and asymptomatic individuals., Methods: Databases were MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE up to the end of September 2021. Studies with cross-sectional and longitudinal design were selected, with adult patients with CNP and asymptomatic individuals with reports respiratory function., Results: 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and 10 were included in the meta-analysis showing a statistically significant reduction in inspiratory/expiratory muscle strength (MIP/MEP) in the patients with CNP compared with the asymptomatic individuals (mean difference (MD) for MIP, -11.67 [-14.57 to -8.77]; MD for MEP, -11.80 [-14.99 to -8.60]) and pulmonary function: vital capacity (standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.31 [-0.56 to -0.06]); maximum voluntary ventilation (SMD, -0.36 [-0.59 to -0.14]); forced vital capacity (SMD, -0.53 [-0.99 to -0.06]); peak expiratory flow (SMD, -0.58 [-1.03 to -0.12]); and forced expiratory volume in the first second (SMD, -0.28 [-0.51 to -0.05])., Conclusions: Patients with CNP have reduced respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function compared with asymptomatic individuals, and this difference could be clinically meaningful. However, more studies of high methodological quality and longitudinal studies are needed to strengthen the results of this meta-analysis. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRespiratory dysfunction has been observed in patients with chronic neck pain.Patients with chronic neck pain present a decrease in respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function compared with asymptomatic individuals.Respiratory pattern disorders should be considered in the clinical context of chronic neck pain.Interventions focused on respiratory muscle training could be helpful for this population.

Purpose: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with respiratory muscle weakness could have physical function impairments, given the functional/biomechanical link of the trunk stabilising system. Thus, clinicians could employ new treatment strategies targeting respiratory muscles to improve their physical function. This study pretends to evaluate the relationship between respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function and pelvic floor function, and also to correlate these variables with physical function (gait function, disability and quality of life) in patients with MS., Methods: 41 patients participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Respiratory muscle strength [maximal respiratory pressures (MIP/MEP)], pulmonary function (forced spirometry), pelvic floor function [urinary incontinence (UI)], physical function [Timed Up & Go (TUG) test, Barthel index and health status questionnaire (SF-12)] were evaluated., Results: Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function were moderately related to UI (MIP: rho = -0.312; MEP: rho = -0.559). MEP was moderately related to physical function (TUG: rho = -0.508; Barthel index: rho = 0.418). Patients with and without expiratory muscle weakness showed differences in UI, pulmonary and physical function., Conclusion: Patients with MS with greater deterioration in pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength, especially expiratory muscles, showed greater deterioration in UI and physical function. Expiratory muscle weakness had a negative impact on urinary, physical and pulmonary function.Implications for rehabilitationPulmonary function is associated with urinary incontinence and gait functionality in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Expiratory muscle weakness is associated with impaired urinary and physical function in patients with MS.The inclusion of respiratory muscle training to the rehabilitation programs of patients with MS could improve their pelvic floor disorders and physical function.

Purpose: To provide test-retest reliability for the 6-min walk test and the physiological variables obtained during the test, and to establish the minimal detectable change for the distance walked in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis., Methods: 40 patients performed two 6-min walk tests on the same day (separated by 30-min of rest). The perceived breathlessness and fatigue in the legs were assessed with the modified Borg scale. The peripheral muscle strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer device, the medicine ball throw test and the horizontal jump test., Results: The test-retest reliability of the distance walked, dyspnea and fatigue in the legs were good for children (minimal detectable change 90-95 : 59.39-70.55 m) and for adolescents (minimal detectable change 90-95: 47.81-56.8 m) with cystic fibrosis. Exercise tolerance is more related to 6-min walk work ( distance walked x body weight ) than to the distance walked alone and showed a positive association with peripheral muscle strength and forced vital capacity., Conclusions: The 6-min walk test is a reproducible and reliable tool to measure exercise tolerance for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. The minimal detectable changes reported for the distances achieved by these patients will be useful to identify the effectiveness of therapies aimed at alleviating or improving impaired physical capacity.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe 6-min walk test could be used to measure exercise tolerance for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, as it is a reliable test over time.An increase in the distance covered in the 6-min walk test that exceeds the minimum detectable change is recommended to determine improved exercise tolerance for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.The use of the 6-min walk work ( distance walked x body weight ) is recommended because it correlates better with exercise tolerance than the distance alone in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Purpose: To investigate whether patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain and having moderate to severe disability have a greater cervical motor function impairment and respiratory disturbances compared with patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain having mild disability and asymptomatic subjects; and the association between these outcomes in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain and healthy controls., Methods: Cross-sectional study, 44 patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain and 31 healthy subjects participated. The neck disability index was used to divide the patients into 2 groups: 1) mild disability group (scores between 5 and 14 points); and 2) moderate to severe disability group (scores >14 points). Cervical motor function was measured by cervical range of motion, forward head posture, neck flexor, and extensor muscle strength. Respiratory function and maximum respiratory pressures were also measured., Results: Statistically differences were found between the patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain having a moderate to severe disability and the asymptomatic subjects for cervical and respiratory muscle strength. Comparisons between chronic nonspecific neck pain and the asymptomatic groups showed differences for all the variables, except for forward head posture. The regression model determined that strength of cervical flexion explained 36.4 and 45.6% of the variance of maximum inspiratory pressures and maximum expiratory pressures, respectively., Conclusions: Only the chronic nonspecific neck pain group with moderate to severe disability showed differences compared with the healthy subjects. Neck muscle strength could be a good predictor of respiratory muscle function. Implications for rehabilitation Neck pain severity could be closely associated with decreased respiratory pressure in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain. These findings suggest a new therapeutic approach for patients with moderate to severe disability, such as respiratory muscle training. The regression models show that a simple measurement of neck muscle strength could provide a reasonably accurate prediction for the respiratory function of these patients. Hence, this could provide an easy tool to assess respiratory function to physiotherapists without the need for sophisticated instrumentation.