EFFECTS OF ASYMMETRIC CHEST VOLUME DEPENDING ON INSPIRATION LOAD

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of asymmetric chest volume depending on inspiration load using 3-dimensional motion analysis in a sitting position.
Methods: The participants were 13 sedentary healthy men with a mean age of 21.6 years, mean weight of 58.2 kg, mean height of 169.1 cm and a mean body mass index of 20.3 kg/m2. Using 3-dimensional motion analysis, changes were assessed in the upper thorax defined as the anterior position from the midpoint of the total chest volume from the sternal notch to the 3rd rib, and the lower thorax defined as the posterior portion from the midpoint of the total chest volume from the xiphoid process to the 10th rib.
Result: During both quiet breathing and deep breathing, and under any of the intake loads investigated, the upper right thorax exhibited a significantly larger change in chest volume than the upper left thorax(p=0.013, p=0.009,p=0.005,p=0.005). Conversely, the lower left thorax exhibited a significantly larger change in chest volume than the lower right thorax (p=0.009, p=0.005, p=0.013, p=0.009).
Conclusion: The results of the current study, suggested that about chest configuration in the sitting positions, inspiration loads are larger in the upper right thorax and the lower left thorax than they are in the upper left thorax and lower right thorax.