Effects of posture on chest-wall configuration and motion during tidal breathing in normal men.
Sachie Takashima, Masafumi Nozoe, Kyoshi Mase and 3 others
PMID 28210033WHAT IT FOUND
In 15 healthy men, posture changed rib-cage breathing motion: sitting increased vertical and front-to-back motion, side-lying increased side-to-side motion.
Tidal volume did not change, and abdomen moved similarly front-to-back in all postures.
Key findings
01Quiet-breathing tidal volume did not differ between supine, side-lying, and sitting.
02Sitting produced greater vertical and front-to-back motion at the front part of the pulmonary rib cage than supine and side-lying.
03Side-lying produced greater side-to-side motion at the left abdominal rib cage than supine and sitting.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 15 healthy men without respiratory dysfunction were measured, so this is a small healthy reference study rather than a patient study. The authors state the results cannot be applied to women because chest-wall motion differs between men and women. Measurements were made on the floor, not a bed, so the results cannot necessarily be applied to bedridden patients. The study did not include patients after surgery or with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, although it mentions these groups may be difficult to assess.
The easy way to misread this
Do not apply these patterns to women or bedridden patients. The study measured 15 healthy men on a floor, and the authors state the results cannot be applied to women or necessarily to bedridden patients.