Abstract
Background Abdominal obesity is a chronic condition that can contribute to impairments in lung function, leading to increased risks for respiratory-related diseases. Body position is an important technique that effectively restores and increases lung function and chest wall volumes. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of the body positions on total and compartmental chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength in individuals with and without abdominal obesity. Methods Twenty obesity and twenty healthy males performed in four body position including sitting without and with back support, Fowler's, and supine positions. Each position was performed for five minutes. Chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength were assessed in each position. Results Sitting without and with back support resulted in higher total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volumes, lung function, and inspiratory muscle strength than Fowler's and supine positions in both groups (p < 0.001). Abdominal obesity subjects had significantly less total and compartmental chest wall volumes and lung function across four body positions than healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Respiratory muscle strength in the obesity group was less than that in the healthy control group (p > 0.05). Conclusions This study provides new information regarding the effect of obesity and body position on chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength. Among obesity individuals who are bedridden, sitting increases lung function, total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volumes, and inspiratory muscle strength—and would therefore likely to decrease the risk of respiratory-related disease—relative to Fowler's and supine positions.
Highlights
Impairments of lung function, chest wall motion, and dysfunctional breathing are common in patients with cardiopulmonary problems [1,2,3]
In comparisons between body positions, the current results indicated that both sitting positions in the abdominal obesity group showed the largest of the total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volume, lung function, and inspiratory muscle strength, followed by Fowler’s and the supine position
Our findings indicate that a fully supine position results in the largest reductions in muscle strength in the abdominal obesity group. ese results are consistent with the findings from previous researchers [18, 19, 21]. e gravitation effects induced by lying down appear to lead to mechanical disadvantages that reduce the respiratory performance [18, 19, 21]
Summary
Impairments of lung function, chest wall motion, and dysfunctional breathing are common in patients with cardiopulmonary problems [1,2,3]. E objective of the current study was to examine the effects of the body positions on total and compartmental chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength in individuals with and without abdominal obesity. Sitting without and with back support resulted in higher total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volumes, lung function, and inspiratory muscle strength than Fowler’s and supine positions in both groups (p < 0.001). Abdominal obesity subjects had significantly less total and compartmental chest wall volumes and lung function across four body positions than healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Among obesity individuals who are bedridden, sitting increases lung function, total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volumes, and inspiratory muscle strength—and would likely to decrease the risk of respiratory-related disease—relative to Fowler’s and supine positions
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