Peak expiratory flow in healthy, young, non-active subjects in seated, supine, and prone postures.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the PEFs in healthy, young, non-active subjects in seated, supine, and prone postures. METHODS: A total of 30 healthy volunteers (15 male, mean age 22.7 years, non-smokers, sedentary) underwent a physical examination, spirometry to confirm normal pulmonary function, and PEF using the Mini-Wright Peak Flow Meter while wearing a nose clip. PEF measurements were repeated three times in each of three positions (seated, prone, and supine) in random order and differed by less than 20 L/min for a given position. Paired Student's t-tests were used to analyze the results, and the significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The PEF values obtained when the study participants were in a seated position (481.0 ± 115.1 L/min) were higher than those obtained when participants were in prone (453.7 ± 112.1 L/min) or supine (453.2 ± 114.3 L/min) positions (p < 0.05). No significant difference in PEF values was observed between the prone and supine positions. CONCLUSION: Body posture affects PEF in healthy, young, non-active subjects. PEFs are higher when subjects are in a seated position compared to prone or supine positions, but no difference in PEF is observed between the prone and supine positions.

Bilateral Shoulder Dysfunction Related to the Lung Resection Area After Thoracotomy.

This study aimed to investigate the mobility, pain, and disability of the shoulders after different pulmonary surgical procedures.It is a cross-sectional prospective study. A total of 38 patients who underwent lung surgery via thoracotomy (mean age = 57 ±â€Š10 years) were evaluated in the preoperative period, and first and second postoperative days were assessed for range of motion of shoulder; pain intensity; and application of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index questionnaire. This study compared the 3 days of evaluation, and the subgroups according to the resection area (biopsy/nodulectomy, lung segmentectomy and lobectomy).There was a decrease of flexion (153°â€Š±â€Š16°-98°â€Š±â€Š23°), abduction (151°â€Š±â€Š20°-126°â€Š±â€Š38°), and increased Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (2.4-44.3) in the shoulder ipsilateral to surgery from the preoperative to the first postoperative day (P < 0.05). There was a greater loss of ipsilateral flexion and abduction in the lobectomy subgroup (P < 0.05), and decreased abduction of the contralateral shoulder in the lung segmentectomy and lobectomy subgroups (P < 0.05).After pulmonary surgery, there is bilateral impairment in shoulder range of motion, with greater limitation on ipsilateral shoulder, and larger resections.