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- Title
Orientation and position of the scapula, head and kyphosis thoracic in male patients with COPD.
- Authors
Urbanowicz RA; Lamb JR; Todd I; Corne JM; Fairclough LC
- Abstract
Rationale: The present study investigated thoracic kyphosis and the orientation and position of the scapula and head in male subjects with COPD compared to an age-paired control group. Quantitative descriptions on postural alterations in patients with COPD are lacking in the literature. Methods: Nineteen individuals with COPD (74.2 ± 5.1 years) and 19 individuals in the control group (71.9 ± 4.6 years) participated in the study. A three-dimensional motion capture system was used to obtain the upward rotation, anterior tilt and internal rotation angles as well as the linear measures of scapular elevation and abduction. Thoracic kyphosis, protraction of the head and shoulders, and the diameter ofthe upper thoracic cage were also measured. ANOVA and the Student's t-test for dependent samples were used for the inter-group and intra-group comparisons, respectively. Results: The COPD group exhibited significantly higher right (Ffl.37]=6.12,P=0.0l82; 12.99 cm 95% CI, 12.43 to 13.52) and left (F[1.37] = 10.21,P=0.0029; 12.35 cm, 95% CI. 11.81 to 12.89) scapulae elevation in comparison to the control group. The COPD group exhibited asymmetry in the scapulae and position of the head (P<0.05). Conclusions: Male individuals with COPD exhibit more elevated scapulae in comparison to controls, possibly due to hyperinflation of the lungs, which changes the position of the sternum and aftects the scapulae. Furthermore, patients exhibited asymmetries that could lead to the occurrence of pain in the scapular and cervical regions. Understanding these postural alterations is important to the development of exercise programs that would emphasize techniques aimed to prevent scapular elevation.
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy, 2009, Vol 45, Issue 2, p30
- ISSN
1205-9838
- Publication type
Journal Article