Background: It has recently reported that chest pain was seen out of 22-55% of patients with COPD. 

Aim: The study aimed to determine the effect of disease severity and muscle tightness existence on chest and neuropathic pain, functional exercise capacity and quality of life  in patients with COPD.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with COPD aged between 40 to 75 years (10 female, 37 male; mean age: 58.53 ± 7.09) participated to the study. The participants had inability to walk independently, spinal surgery, pulmonary arterial hypertension, MI or cardiac surgery were excluded. Chest pain during rest and activity via Visual Analog Scale, neuropathic pain via Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Sign were measured. Disease severity via modified MRC dyspnea scale, CAT and GOLD ABE Assessment Tool were evaluated. Functional exercise capacity via six minute walk test and quality of life via St George Respiratory Questionnaire, muscle tightness for pectoralis major/minor, upper trapezius, levator scapula, sternocleidomastoideus were evaluated.  Independent sample t test was used to compare the pain levels in terms of muscle tightness existence and severity of disease.

Results: Resting chest pain levels were higher in patients with levator scapula and upper trapezius muscles? tightness (p<0.05). Chest pain during activity levels were higher only in patients with pectoralis major muscle?s tightness (p<0.05). While severity of disease getting worse, quality of life decreased and pain during activity and neuropathic pain levels increased (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Although resting chest pain increased with muscle tightness existance, neuropathic and activity pain increased with disease severity.