Changes in sitting posture induce multiplanar changes in chest wall shape and motion with breathing

This study examined the effect of sitting posture on regional chest wall shape in three dimensions, chest wall motion (measured with electromagnetic motion analysis system), and relative contributions of the ribcage and abdomen to tidal volume (%RC/V(t)) (measured with inductance plethysmography) in 7 healthy volunteers. In seven seated postures, increased dead space breathing automatically increased V(t) (to 1.5 V(t)) to match volume between conditions and study the effects of posture independent of volume changes. %RC/V(t) (p<0.05), chest wall shape (p<0.05) and motion during breathing differed between postures. Compared to a reference posture, movement at the 9th rib lateral diameter increased in the thoracolumbar extension posture (p<0.008). In slumped posture movement at the AP diameters at T1 and axilla increased (p<0.00001). Rotation postures decreased movement in the lateral diameter at the axilla (p<0.0007). The data show that single plane changes in sitting posture alter three-dimensional ribcage configuration and chest wall kinematics during breathing, while maintaining constant respiratory function.

[1]  Alf Thorstensson,et al.  Diverging Intramuscular Activity Patterns in Back and Abdominal Muscles During Trunk Rotation , 2002, Spine.

[2]  R. Ortengren,et al.  Myoelectric activity in individual lumbar erector spinae muscles in sitting. A study with surface and wire electrodes. , 1974, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine. Supplement.

[3]  Y. Toyama,et al.  Factors of Thoracic Cage Deformity That Affect Pulmonary Function in Adolescent Idiopathic Thoracic Scoliosis , 2007, Spine.

[4]  Diane G. Lee.  The Thorax: An Integrated Approach , 2003 .

[5]  R. Gorman,et al.  Effects of increased ventilatory drive on motor unit firing rates in human inspiratory muscles. , 1999, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[6]  L. Pengelly,et al.  Contribution of rib cage and abdomen-diaphragm to tidal volume during CO2 rebreathing. , 1979, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[7]  G. Cheron,et al.  Chest wall motion during tidal breathing. , 1997, Journal of applied physiology.

[8]  O. Hänninen,et al.  Sitting and standing postures are corrected by adjustable furniture with lowered muscle tension in high-school students , 2007, Ergonomics.

[9]  W C Hutton,et al.  The effect of posture on the lumbar spine. , 1985, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[10]  M. Sackner,et al.  Validation of respiratory inductive plethysmography using different calibration procedures. , 2015, The American review of respiratory disease.

[11]  K. Rimmer,et al.  Interaction between postural and respiratory control of human intercostal muscles. , 1995, Journal of applied physiology.

[12]  Jack P Callaghan,et al.  Examination of the flexion relaxation phenomenon in erector spinae muscles during short duration slumped sitting. , 2002, Clinical biomechanics.

[13]  A. White,et al.  The Clinical Biomechanics of Kyphotic Deformities , 1977, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[14]  Posture and Pain , 1971 .

[15]  B. Lanini,et al.  Chest wall kinematics, respiratory muscle action and dyspnoea during arm vs. leg exercise in humans , 2006, Acta physiologica.

[16]  G. Tzelepis,et al.  Chest wall motion during speech production in patients with advanced ankylosing spondylitis. , 2007, Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR.

[17]  M. Cosio,et al.  Voluntary factors influencing the distribution of inspired gas. , 1977, The American review of respiratory disease.

[18]  J. Sharp,et al.  Relative contributions of rib cage and abdomen to breathing in normal subjects , 1975 .

[19]  Manohar M. Panjabi,et al.  Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine , 1978 .

[20]  S. Gandevia,et al.  Balancing Acts: Respiratory Sensations, Motor Control And Human Posture , 2002, Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology.

[21]  A. Troyer.  Mechanical role of the abdominal muscles in relation to posture , 1983 .

[22]  L M Straker,et al.  A comparison of posture and muscle activity during tablet computer, desktop computer and paper use by young children , 2008, Ergonomics.

[23]  S. Gandevia,et al.  Changes in intra-abdominal pressure during postural and respiratory activation of the human diaphragm. , 2000, Journal of applied physiology.

[24]  J. Sharp,et al.  Effects of body position change on thoracoabdominal motion. , 1978, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[25]  A. De Troyer,et al.  Activation of the parasternal intercostals during breathing efforts in human subjects. , 1982, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[26]  Richard M. Smith,et al.  Influence of posture on the range of axial rotation and coupled lateral flexion of the thoracic spine. , 2007, Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics.

[27]  A. De Troyer,et al.  Role of rib cage elastance in the coupling between the abdominal muscles and the lung. , 2004, Journal of applied physiology.

[28]  T. Sears,et al.  Mechanics of the human diaphragm during voluntary contraction: statics. , 1978, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[29]  W. Floyd,et al.  The function of the erectores spinae muscles in certain movements and postures in man * , 1955, The Journal of physiology.

[30]  S. Kumar,et al.  An Electromyographic Study of Unresisted Trunk Rotation With Normal Velocity Among Healthy Subjects , 1996, Spine.

[31]  S. Gandevia,et al.  Contractions of specific abdominal muscles in postural tasks are affected by respiratory maneuvers. , 1997, Journal of applied physiology.

[32]  Julie A. Hides,et al.  Different Ways to Balance the Spine: Subtle Changes in Sagittal Spinal Curves Affect Regional Muscle Activity , 2009, Spine.

[33]  S C Gandevia,et al.  Discharge frequencies of single motor units in human diaphragm and parasternal muscles in lying and standing. , 2001, Journal of applied physiology.

[34]  T. Amis,et al.  Regional lung function in bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. , 1980, Clinical science.

[35]  S C Gandevia,et al.  Contraction of the human diaphragm during rapid postural adjustments , 1997, The Journal of physiology.

[36]  E. Dean,et al.  Effect of body position on pulmonary function. , 1985, Physical therapy.

[37]  A. Fishman,et al.  CARDIORESPIRATORY FAILURE IN KYPHOSCOLIOSIS , 1959, Medicine.

[38]  Wim Dankaerts,et al.  Effect of Different Upright Sitting Postures on Spinal-Pelvic Curvature and Trunk Muscle Activation in a Pain-Free Population , 2006, Spine.

[39]  J. Jordanoglou.  Rib movement in health, kyphoscoliosis, and ankylosing spondylitis , 1969, Thorax.

[40]  A. Cantin,et al.  Stiffness of the rib cage in a subset of rheumatoid patients , 2007, Lung.

[41]  I. Lauder,et al.  Age effects in kyphosis and lordosis in adults. , 1974, Annals of human biology.

[42]  N. Zamel,et al.  Thoracoabdominal motion during hypercapnia, hypoxia, and exercise. , 1985, Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.

[43]  R. M. Stewart,et al.  Regional lung function in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. , 1976, Thorax.

[44]  K P Van de Woestijne,et al.  Total respiratory resistance and reactance in ankylosing spondylitis and kyphoscoliosis. , 1991, The European respiratory journal.

[45]  P. Dolan,et al.  Commonly Adopted Postures and Their Effect on the Lumbar Spine , 1988, Spine.

[46]  Karen V Richards,et al.  The Effect of Different Standing and Sitting Postures on Trunk Muscle Activity in a Pain-Free Population , 2002, Spine.

[47]  M. Makhsous,et al.  Effect of different sitting postures on lung capacity, expiratory flow, and lumbar lordosis. , 2006, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[48]  M. Coppieters,et al.  Differential Activation of the Thoracic Multifidus and Longissimus Thoracis During Trunk Rotation , 2005, Spine.

[49]  Leon Straker,et al.  Differences in Sitting Postures are Associated With Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain Disorders When Patients Are Subclassified , 2006, Spine.

[50]  C. Peel,et al.  A comparison of tidal volume, breathing frequency, and minute ventilation between two sitting postures in healthy adults , 2003 .

[51]  K. Rimmer,et al.  Intercostal muscles are used during rotation of the thorax in humans. , 1992, Journal of applied physiology.

[52]  J. Mead,et al.  Measurement of the separate volume changes of rib cage and abdomen during breathing. , 1967, Journal of applied physiology.

[53]  K. P. Singer,et al.  The Clinical Anatomy and Management of Thoracic Spine Pain , 2000 .

[54]  Paul W. Hodges,et al.  Ventilatory changes following head-up tilt and standing in healthy subjects , 2005, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[55]  A Thorstensson,et al.  EMG activities of the quadratus lumborum and erector spinae muscles during flexion-relaxation and other motor tasks. , 1996, Clinical biomechanics.

[56]  A. Koumbourlis,et al.  Scoliosis and the respiratory system. , 2006, Paediatric respiratory reviews.

[57]  Kazuhisa Takahashi,et al.  An Analysis of Chest Wall and Diaphragm Motions in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Dynamic Breathing MRI , 2004, Spine.

[58]  J V Basmajian,et al.  Electromyography of deep back muscles in man. , 1972, The American journal of anatomy.

[59]  S. Gandevia,et al.  Activation of the human diaphragm during a repetitive postural task , 2000, The Journal of physiology.

[60]  M. Estenne,et al.  Coordination between rib cage muscles and diaphragm during quiet breathing in humans. , 1984, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[61]  S. Gandevia,et al.  Postural activity of the diaphragm is reduced in humans when respiratory demand increases , 2001, The Journal of physiology.

[62]  G. Jull,et al.  An in vivo study of the primary and coupled rotations of the thoracic spine. , 1996, Clinical biomechanics.

[63]  W C Hutton,et al.  The effect of posture on the role of the apophysial joints in resisting intervertebral compressive forces. , 1980, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[64]  J M Morris,et al.  An electromyographic study of the intrinsic muscles of the back in man. , 1962, Journal of anatomy.

[65]  H. Gray.  Gray's Anatomy , 1858 .