Studie som nevner at alle med kroniske nakkeplager også har svake pustemuskler, og at pusten kan bidra til å opprettholde smertene. Spesielt ved svak utpust (MEP – maximal expiratory pressure) er det sammenheng med nakkesmerter. Kunne trengt hele denne studien.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23199797

Neck muscle strength (r > 0.5), kinesiophobia (r < -0.3) and catastrophizing (r < -0.3) were significantly associated with maximal mouth pressures (P < 0.05), whereas MEP was additionally negatively correlated with neck pain and disability (r < -0.3, P < 0.05).

It can be concluded that patients with chronic neck pain present weakness of their respiratory muscles. This weakness seems to be a result of the impaired global and local muscle system of neck pain patients, and psychological states also appear to have an additional contribution. Clinicians are advised to consider the respiratory system of patients with chronic neck pain during their usual assessment and appropriately address their treatment.