Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 4 , Pages 504-509, April 2006

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

Presented in part to the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, June 19–22, 2004, Orlando, FL.

  • Fang Lin, DSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
    • Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
    • Sensory Motor Performance Program, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Sriranjani Parthasarathy, BS

      Affiliations

    • Sensory Motor Performance Program, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Susan J. Taylor, OT/L

      Affiliations

    • Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Deborah Pucci, MPT

      Affiliations

    • Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Ronald W. Hendrix, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Mohsen Makhsous, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
    • Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
    • Sensory Motor Performance Program, Chicago, IL
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Mohsen Makhsous, PhD, 645 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1100, Chicago, IL 60611

Abstract 

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.

Key Words:  Lordosis , Lung volume measurements , Posture , Rehabilitation

 

 Supported by the Paralyzed Veterans Association (grant no. 2321-01), the National Institutes of Health (grant no. R24 Rehab Network), and the Falk Medical Trust.No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(05)01472-3

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2005.11.031

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 4 , Pages 504-509, April 2006

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