title: Age-related decline in chest wall mobility: a cross-sectional study among community-dwelling elderly women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chest wall mobility is strongly related to respiratory function; however, the effect of aging on chest wall mobility-and the level at which this mobility is most affected-remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate age-related differences in chest wall mobility and respiratory function among elderly women in different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional observational study was performed in Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture and Ayabe City in Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Inclusion criteria were female sex, age 65 years or older, community resident, and ability to ambulate independently, with or without an assistive device. Thoracic excursion at the axillary and xiphoid levels and at the level of the tenth rib was measured with measuring tape. Respiratory function, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), was assessed by spirometry, and FVC percent predicted (%FVC), FEV1 percent predicted (%FEV1), and FEV1/FVC were calculated. Chest wall mobility and respiratory function were compared among 4 age groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 251 potential participants, 132 met the inclusion criteria. Participants were divided into 4 age groups: group 1, 65 to 69 years; group 2, 70 to 74 years; group 3, 75 to 79 years; and group 4, 80 years or older. Statistically significant differences were found in thoracic excursion at the axillary level between groups 1 and 4 and between groups 2 and 4 when adjusted for height and weight (F4.52, P=.01). In addition, statistically significant differences were found in the FVC and FEV1 values between groups 1 and 3 and between groups 2 and 3 (FVC: F4.97, P=.01; FEV1: F6.17, P=.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chest wall mobility at the axillary level and respiratory function decreased with age in community-dwelling women aged 65 years or older. Further longitudinal studies are required to clarify the effects of aging on chest wall mobility and respiratory function.
authors.forename: Daiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukutani
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.forename: Yuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morino
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirooka
authors.forename: Yuma
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nozaki
authors.forename: Hinako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Moe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000502:physiology*