The Impact of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Pulmonary Function in Mechanical Neck Pain Patients

Abstract

Background and purpose: Mechanical neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with pain, disability, and impaired ventilatory function. Although extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has shown beneficial effects in musculoskeletal disorders, its impact on ventilatory function in mechanical neck pain remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the effects of adding ESWT to conventional physiotherapy on ventilatory function, pain, and neck disability in patients with mechanical neck pain.
Material and methods: Forty male patients aged 20–30 years with mechanical neck pain were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n = 20). The control group received conventional physiotherapy, while the ESWT group received the same program plus ESWT once weekly for four weeks. Outcomes included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV₁, PEF, and MVV), assessed before treatment, immediately after treatment, and one month later.
Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, disability, and ventilatory function over time (P < 0.05). The ESWT group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in pain and disability at post-treatment and follow-up (P < 0.001). Pain improved by 72.46% and 66.67% in the ESWT group versus 58.27% and 46.76% in controls, while NDI improved by 66.74% and 69.28% versus 40.42% and 36.21%, respectively. Although greater percentage improvements in FVC, FEV₁, PEF, and MVV were observed with ESWT, between-group differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Both interventions improved pain, neck disability, and ventilatory function. Adding ESWT resulted in significantly greater improvements in pain and disability, while pulmonary function showed greater clinical improvement without significant between-group differences. ESWT may be a useful adjunct to conventional physiotherapy for mechanical neck pain.