Article

The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with chronic
neck pain have changes in their transcutaneous partial pressure of arterial
carbon dioxide (PtcCO2) and whether other physical and psychologic parameters are
associated. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, 45 patients with chronic
idiopathic neck pain and 45 healthy sex-, age-, height-, and weight-matched
controls were voluntarily recruited. The participants' neck muscle strength,
endurance of the deep neck flexors, neck range of movement, forward head posture,
psychologic states (anxiety, depression, kinesiophobia, and catastrophizing),
disability, and pain were assessed. PtcCO2 was assessed using transcutaneous
blood gas monitoring. RESULTS: The patients with chronic neck pain presented
significantly reduced PtcCO2 (P < 0.01). In the patients, PtcCO2 was
significantly correlated with strength of the neck muscles, endurance of the deep
neck flexors, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and pain intensity (P < 0.05). Pain
intensity, endurance of the deep neck flexors, and kinesiophobia remained as
significant predictors into the regression model of PtcCO2. CONCLUSIONS: Patients
with chronic neck pain present with reduced PtcCO2, which can reach the limits of
hypocapnia. This disturbance seems to be associated with physical and psychologic
manifestations of neck pain. These findings can have a great impact on various
clinical aspects, notably, patient assessment, rehabilitation, and drug
prescription.

Langue : ANGLAIS