Pathological Origins of Trunk and Neck Pain: Part II - Disorders of the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems.

Part II of this three-part series on clinical decision making in physical therapy concludes the overview of the organ systems by reviewing conditions of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems that may be manifested primarily as trunk or neck pain. The cardiovascular system disorders covered include myocardial infarct, coronary and valvular heart disease, vascular aneurysms, vascular inflammatory diseases, and peripheral vascular occlusive disease. The pulmonary system disorders covered include neoplasms and infectious diseases. The authors hope this information will help prevent the physical therapist from overlooking cardiovascular and pulmonary system disorders as a possible source of a patient's symptoms. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1990;12(5):208-215.