Relationship Between Peak Expiratory Flow Rate and Shoulders Posture in Healthy Individuals and Moderate to Severe Asthmatic Patients

Abstract

Introduction. Asthma overloads respiratory muscles causing changes in posture. Objectives. To evaluate shoulder position in asthmatics and its correlation to the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Methods. A cross-sectional study involving 19 asthmatics (study group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group). Assessment of PEFR was used to determine airway obstruction. Shoulder position was quantified as the ratio between the front and back measurements, in centimeters, of the distance between the two outermost points of each scapula. Shoulder position measurement (SPM) ratio data from both groups were compared and correlated to PEFR. Results. The asthmatics presented lower PEFR (279 ± 64 L/min) and SPM (0.88: range 0.83–0.9) than did control subjects (555 ± 100 L/min and 0.97: range 0.95–1, respectively) (p < 0.001). There was a correlation between PEFR and SPM (asthmatics r = 0.8; controls r = 0.5). Conclusion. Determining SPM ratios allowed us to identify those postural alterations that correlated with pulmonary function in asthmatics and in healthy individuals. Further investigation is needed before SPM can be used as a tool for clinical evaluation of asthma patients.

• asthma
• posture
• shoulder
• peak expiratory flow rate