title: Peak expiratory flow in healthy, young, non-active subjects in seated, supine, and prone postures.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: a Physiotherapy Course, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo University , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca Orestes
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: a Physiotherapy Course, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo University , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Hugo C Dutra
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: a Physiotherapy Course, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo University , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Higuti
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Gianinis
authors.affiliation: b University Hospital, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Vianna
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Passarelli-Amaro
authors.affiliation: b University Hospital, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tambascio
authors.affiliation: a Physiotherapy Course, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo University , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ada C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D016684:Prone Position; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013147:Spirometry; D016683:Supine Position; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Healthy volunteers; peak expiratory flow rate; posture