Underutilization of Respiratory Assessment and Management in Chronic Neck Pain: Exploring Physiotherapists' Practice Patterns

Background: A significant link has been reflected between the respiratory dysfunction and chronic neck pain. Patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) experience various symptoms related to respiratory dysfunction due to its close relationship between muscular attachments and thoracic cage movements. Therefore, it is essential to include respiratory assessment and management while treating patients with CNP. Hence, the present study aims to determine whether physiotherapists incorporate respiratory assessment and management in their practice while treating patients with CNP. Methodology: It was a cross sectional, observation study, carried out using a Google form, which included a self-structured questionnaire inquiring about the current practice pattern of physiotherapists for managing patients with CNP. Total of 141 Physiotherapists managing patients with CNP were recruited through personal contacts and snowball sampling. Frequency and proportions of responses were analyzed. Results: Of 141 responses collected, only 3 physiotherapists (2.13%) included respiratory assessment and management in their practice for CNP patients, while majority focus on neuro-musculoskeletal system to be addressed while assessing and managing patients with CNP. Conclusion: A notable awareness and knowledge gap is revealed by the low number (2.13%) of physiotherapists who treat respiratory dysfunction in CNP patients. This highlights the necessity of better instruction and training in order to understand the importance of respiratory assessment and care for patients with CNP.