title: Abdominal muscle activity during breathing in different postures in COPD "Stage 0" and healthy subjects.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate the effect of different postures on the abdominal muscle activity during breathing in subjects "at risk" for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy. Twenty-nine volunteers, divided in "At Risk" for COPD (n=16; 47.38±5.08years) and Healthy (n=13; 47.54±6.65years) groups, breathed at the same rhythm in supine, standing, tripod and 4-point-kneeling positions. Surface electromyography was performed to assess the activation intensity of rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) muscles, during inspiration and expiration. From supine to standing, an increased activation of all abdominal muscles was observed in "At Risk" for COPD group; however, in Healthy group, TrA/IO muscle showed an increased activation. In both groups, the TrA/IO muscle activation in tripod and 4-point kneeling positions was higher than in supine and lower than in standing. Subjects "at risk" for the development of COPD seemed to have a specific recruitment of the superficial layer of ventrolateral abdominal wall for the synchronization of postural function and mechanics of breathing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, and Activity and Human Movement Study Center (CEMAH), School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Sport, CIFI2D, and Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: antoniomesquitamontes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mesquita Montes
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapist, Private Practice, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, and Activity and Human Movement Study Center (CEMAH), School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crasto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, and Activity and Human Movement Study Center (CEMAH), School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina Argel
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, and Activity and Human Movement Study Center (CEMAH), School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, and Activity and Human Movement Study Center (CEMAH), School of Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Sleep Technician, Private Practice, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport, CIFI2D, and Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D000072277:Maximal Respiratory Pressures; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012119:Respiration; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Body position; Core abdominal; GOLD “Stage 0”; Postural control; Respiration