The effect of body position on pulmonary function, chest wall motion, and discomfort in young healthy participants

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 Nov-Dec;37(9):719-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.10.005. Epub 2014 Nov 1.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different recumbent positions on pulmonary function, chest wall motion, and feelings of discomfort in young nonobese healthy volunteers.

Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers (age, 28.0±1.4 years; height, 167.5±10.1 cm; weight, 62.3±10.2 kg) were studied in the sitting position and in the following 6 recumbent positions: supine, left retroversion at a 45° tilt, left anteversion at a 45° tilt, right retroversion at a 45° tilt, right anteversion at a 45° tilt, and prone. After 5 minutes of a selected position, pulmonary functions, including vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (MIP and MEP, respectively), and breathing pattern components at the chest wall were assessed. Discomfort was assessed using a modified Borg scale.

Results: When participants changed position from sitting to each of the 6 recumbent positions, forced expiratory volume in 1 second values decreased significantly (P < .05). None of the participants showed changes in the MIP or MEP in any of the 6 recumbent positions. Rib cage motion was restricted in all recumbent positions except supine, left anteversion at a 45° tilt, and prone. In all 6 recumbent positions, discomfort was experienced during the pulmonary tests. However, in the left retroversion at a 45° tilt position, no discomfort was experienced during the MIP and MEP assessments.

Conclusion: In young, nonobese, healthy volunteers, recumbent positions caused diminished pulmonary functions and induced feelings of discomfort.

Keywords: Posture; Pulmonary Function Tests.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anthropometry
  • Female
  • Healthy Volunteers*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motion*
  • Posture / physiology*
  • Prone Position / physiology
  • Reference Values
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Sampling Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Supine Position / physiology
  • Thoracic Wall / physiology*
  • Vital Capacity / physiology*
  • Young Adult