Experiencing sharp neck pain when breathing can feel alarming, or at the very least, frustrating. After all, it normally happens completely automatically and painlessly thousands of times per day.
If you’re having trouble getting any air because of severe pain, call emergency services. But if it’s just harder than normal to get a full, deep breath without pain, the first step is to relax as best you can and learn what might be going on.
This type of pain is often treatable and may be more common than you think. Learning about the muscles and bones that may be causing the pain can help you better communicate with a healthcare provider and understand why you’re having trouble catching your breath.
Causes of pain in neck when breathing
Most cases of neck pain when breathing stem from musculoskeletal issues rather than serious respiratory problems. As unremarkable as it seems, each breath involves a complex network of muscles, bones, and tissues moving together in perfect harmony.
When you breathe, multiple muscle groups activate simultaneously. Your diaphragm—the primary breathing muscle—expands and contracts to draw air in and out of your lungs. But breathing also involves accessory muscles in your chest, shoulders, and neck. These secondary breathing muscles include:
- Scalene muscles (between your neck and collarbone)
- Sternocleidomastoid muscles (at the front of your neck)
- Upper trapezius muscles (between your collarbone and shoulder)
- Intercostal muscles between your ribs
During normal, relaxed breathing, these accessory muscles play a minor supporting role. However, if there’s a strain or pain coming from one of these muscle groups, you can feel it with every breath.
How breathing affects your posture
Breathing also changes your skeletal structure slightly. Each breath causes subtle movements in your rib cage and spine. Your ribs expand outward during inhalation and relax during exhalation. This movement affects the positioning of your thoracic spine (mid-back) and neck.
Poor posture habits can cause or compound pain while breathing. If you spend long hours hunched over a computer or looking down at your phone, your neck muscles may already be under strain. When you add the mechanical stress of breathing to already-tense muscles, neck pain when breathing deeply becomes more likely.
Triggers for neck pain while breathing
With all that said, the general causes of neck pain in one or more of the areas mentioned above can be described as:
- Muscle tension: Repetitive stress injuries or chronically tight muscles can create trigger points in neck muscles that become painful during breathing movements.
- Cervical spine issues: Problems with the vertebrae in your neck can affect how muscles function during breathing.
- Symptoms from respiratory illness: Coughing and congestion can overwork accessory breathing muscles in the shoulders, neck, and chest, leading to neck pain difficulty breathing.
- Anxiety and stress: Some people carry tension in their shoulders when experiencing stress, which can worsen during breathing.
- Poor sleep posture: Sleeping in awkward positions can strain neck muscles, making them more sensitive to breathing movements.
So when it comes down to it, the causes for breathing pain may be as simple as healing a muscle strain or relaxing from the stress of the day. These and other underlying issues are among the common symptoms that physical therapy can treat.
Do I need to see a doctor for neck pain when breathing?
You should see a doctor promptly if your neck pain when breathing is:
- Severely limiting your ability to breathe normally
- Accompanied by chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath
- Following a recent injury or accident
- Paired with numbness or tingling in your arms or hands
- Getting progressively worse over time
When physical therapy might be your best option
If your neck pain when breathing deeply is more annoying than alarming—coming and going without severely impacting your breathing—a physical therapist might be a better first step to find relief without incurring a large medical expense.
Physical therapists specialize in musculoskeletal conditions and can perform detailed assessments to identify the specific muscles, joints, or movement patterns causing your pain. They’re trained to recognize breathing pattern disorders and design targeted treatment plans for a wide variety of underlying causes.
Treatments for breathing pattern disorder caused by muscle pain
Physical therapists have numerous evidence-based treatments for addressing neck pain when breathing. The key is personalizing treatment to your specific symptoms and underlying causes.
Do I have a breathing pattern disorder?
The medical term often associated with neck pain when breathing is “breathing pattern disorder” (BPD). This condition occurs when your normal breathing mechanics become disrupted, leading to compensatory muscle activation and pain.
However, it’s important to distinguish between a true breathing pattern disorder and neck pain that simply worsens during breathing due to muscle strain or injury. A qualified physical therapist can help make this distinction and develop an appropriate treatment approach.
Whether treating a breathing pattern disorder or neck pain that coincides with your breathing rhythm, the techniques may be similar. These are just a few of the tools our Physical Therapists can utilize for helping relieve neck pain while breathing.
Breath training
Deep breathing training can be used in several types of physical therapy treatment plans, and might include:
- Diaphragmatic breathing exercises to reduce reliance on neck muscles
- Paced breathing techniques to promote relaxation
- Breathing coordination exercises to improve timing and muscle activation
Manual therapy
Hands-on treatment techniques can address muscle tension and joint restrictions contributing to your pain. Manual therapy options include:
- Soft tissue mobilization: Targeted massage and pressure techniques to release muscle tension and trigger points in the neck and shoulders.
- Joint mobilization: Gentle movements to improve mobility in cervical spine joints that may be restricting normal movement.
- Stretching exercises: Targeted stretches can help extend the range of motion of the muscles and ligaments in the shoulders, neck, and chest that may be constricting breathing.
Relaxation techniques
Since stress and anxiety often contribute to both muscle tension and breathing difficulties, relaxation training may be recommended in addition to or as part of your treatment. Effective relaxation techniques include:
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Mindfulness meditation
- Stress management strategies
Therapeutic exercise
Specific exercises can strengthen weak muscles, stretch tight areas, and retrain proper movement patterns. Your exercise program might include:
- Postural correction exercises: Strengthening exercises for deep neck flexors and upper back muscles to improve alignment.
- Core strengthening: Building core stability to support proper breathing mechanics.
- Breathing exercises: Specific movements that coordinate breathing with increased neck and shoulder mobility.
Prevention and education
With any treatment plan at Therapydia, your Physical Therapist will teach you ways to continue experiencing the benefits of your treatment for the long run. This may include ergonomic recommendations, exercise plans, or even just awareness of the conditions that led to your neck pain to avoid certain triggers in the future.
Breathe easier with holistic physical therapy treatments at Therapydia
If you’re experiencing persistent neck pain when breathing, don’t wait for it to resolve on its own. Remember, your symptoms are valid, and help is nearby. Early intervention often leads to faster recovery and prevents the development of chronic pain patterns.
Take the first step by reaching out to a Therapydia clinic near you or by requesting an appointment with a Physical Therapist online today.