Abstract |
This study aimed to investigate the effects of posture on lung function and respiratory muscle strength in
healthy adults. Methods: Altogether, 31 healthy university students in their 20s participated in the present study.
Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength were assessed in the four positions; sitting, right side-lying, left
side-lying, and supine positions. Pulmonary function was measured using a PC-based spirometer, evaluating the forced
vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). Each
measurement was performed twice, and the highest value was recorded. A MicroRPM device was used to assess
respiratory muscle strength, including maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), in
the same postures, following standardized protocols. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated analysis of variance
(ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test to determine the effect of posture on pulmonary function and respiratory muscle
strength. Results: Significant differences in the pulmonary function parameters (FVC, FEV1, MVV) were observed across
postures (p<.05). Post hoc analysis revealed that the pulmonary function parameters (FVC, FEV1, and MVV) measured in
the sitting position significantly differed from those obtained in the other three postures (p<.05). However, no significant
differences in the values were found between the supine and side-lying positions or between the left and right side-lying
positions. Contrarily, MIP and MEP were not significantly different across postures. Conclusion: Our study findings
suggest that posture significantly influences pulmonary function, particularly FVC, FEV1, and MVV, with the sitting position
showing the highest values. However, respiratory muscle strength, as indicated by MIP and MEP, appears to remain
unaffected by postural changes. These results highlight the importance of considering posture when assessing a patient’s
pulmonary function in clinical and research settings. |