Effects of different sitting postures on forced vital capacity in healthy school children

Abstract

Background: Lung function varies with the different body posture of normal individuals. Normal healthy school children adopt different body posture which influences their lung function. This cross sectional observational study was done to assess the effects of different sitting postures on lung function like forced vital capacity (FVC) in healthy school children.
 Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Chittagong Medical college, Chittagong and K S Nazu Miah High school, Khondokia, Younus Nagar, Hathazari, Chittagong during July 2015 to June 2016. A total of 88 subjects of which 42 male and 46 female students aged between 14-16 years studying in class eight to ten were included by purposive sampling method. FVC were recorded by portable digital spirometer (HI-101, Japan). Data were taken in normal upright sitting, kyphotic and at slumped sitting posture. Unpaired and paired t test and repeated measure ANOVA tests were done using SPSS for windows version 20.
 Results: The mean value of FVC were significantly (p<0.001) changed in different sitting posture. Kyphotic sitting posture showed no significant difference (p>0.05) comparing to normal upright sitting posture. Regarding slumped sitting posture comparing to normal upright showed significant low values (p<0.001). Female subjects showed significant low FVC (p<0.001) comparing to male subjects.
 Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the lung function like FVC is significantly decreased in slumped sitting posture.
 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2019; 45: 117-121