Relationship between peak expiratory flow rate and shoulders posture in healthy individuals and moderate to severe asthmatic patients.
BACKGROUND
Asthma overloads respiratory muscles causing changes in posture.


OBJECTIVE
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Robles-Ribeiro
Priscila Games
PG
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Santa Casa School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. prirobles@ig.com.br
Ribeiro
Marcos
M
Lianza
Sergio
S
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011187:Posture; D012782:Shoulder