Department of Physiotherapy, Technological Educational Institute of Lamia, Greece.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Sep;92(9):746-54. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31829e74f7.
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.
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.
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.
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.
本研究旨在探讨慢性颈痛患者的经皮动脉二氧化碳分压（PtcCO2）是否发生变化，以及是否与其他生理和心理参数相关。
在这项横断面研究中，我们招募了 45 名慢性特发性颈痛患者和 45 名性别、年龄、身高和体重匹配的健康对照者作为自愿参与者。评估了参与者的颈肌力量、颈深屈肌耐力、颈部活动范围、前屈姿势、心理状态（焦虑、抑郁、运动恐惧和灾难化）、残疾和疼痛。使用经皮血气监测评估 PtcCO2。
慢性颈痛患者的 PtcCO2 明显降低（P < 0.01）。在患者中，PtcCO2 与颈肌力量、颈深屈肌耐力、运动恐惧、灾难化和疼痛强度显著相关（P < 0.05）。疼痛强度、颈深屈肌耐力和运动恐惧仍然是 PtcCO2 回归模型的显著预测因子。
慢性颈痛患者的 PtcCO2 降低，可能达到低碳酸血症的极限。这种紊乱似乎与颈痛的生理和心理表现有关。这些发现可能对各种临床方面产生重大影响，特别是患者评估、康复和药物处方。
