Effect of Different Sitting Postures on Lung Capacity, Expiratory Flow, and Lumbar Lordosis

Lin F, Parthasarathy S, Taylor SJ, Pucci D, Hendrix RW, Makhsous M. Effect of different sitting postures on lung capacity, expiratory flow, and lumbar lordosis.

Objective

To investigate the effect of sitting posture on lung capacity and expiratory flow (LC-EF) and lumbar lordosis.

Design

Repeated measures on 1 group of subjects in 4 postures.

Setting

Laboratory.

Participants

Seventy able-bodied volunteers.

Interventions

Postures were assumed randomly: normal, with full ischial support and flat lumbar support; slumped, with the pelvis positioned in the middle of seat while leaning against the backrest; against the back part of the seat without ischial support (WO-BPS), with partially removed ischial support and an enhanced lumbar support; and standing.

Main Outcome Measures

For LC-EF, forced vital capacity, maximum forced expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak expiratory flow; and lumbar lordosis.

Results

All LC-EF measures in standing were significantly superior to those in slumped and normal sitting, and 4 measures were significantly higher than in WO-BPS. In slumped sitting, LC-EF significantly decreased from that in normal sitting. WO-BPS sitting significantly increased 4 of the LC-EF measures from those in the normal sitting. Lumbar lordosis was the highest in standing and progressively decreased in WO-BPS, normal, and slumped sitting.

Conclusions

Slumped sitting significantly decreased LC-EF and lumbar lordosis. Because it increases the lumbar lordosis and promotes LC-EF, the WO-BPS posture may be a better seating option for people sitting for a prolonged time.