BACKGROUND: Physical assessment of breathing is an important component of physical therapy evaluations. However, there are no standardized reference values of breathing movements available for use in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the 3-dimensional distances of observational points on the thorax and abdomen during breathing in healthy subjects and to assess the effects of age, posture, and sex on breathing movements. METHODS: We studied the 3-dimensional breathing movement distances of the thorax and abdomen in 100 healthy subjects (50 males, 50 females). Breathing movements were measured with a 3-dimensional motion system during quiet and deep breathing with subjects in supine and sitting positions. Thirteen reflective markers were placed on the upper (the clavicles, 3rd ribs, and sternal angle) and lower thorax (the 8th ribs, 10th ribs, and xiphoid process) and the abdomen (upper abdomen and lateral abdomen). Range of movement in both breathing conditions was measured as the 3-dimensional distance at half respiratory cycle. Respiratory rates were calculated based on the breathing movements analyzed. One-way analysis of variance, t tests, and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The average marker distances for the thorax and abdomen during quiet breathing were less than one third of those during deep breathing. Upper thoracic movement was significantly decreased with age. There was less abdominal movement in females than in males, except during quiet breathing in the supine position. The distances between the thoracic markers were greater and those of the abdomen were less during quiet and deep breathing in the sitting position, compared with those in the supine position. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the observed breathing movements were related to the effects of age, sex, and posture. These findings are in agreement with those reported in previous studies. The results may be helpful in assessing breathing movement by physical examination.

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s u m m a r yBackground: Aging affects the human hand function. For example, a decline in manual dexterity often accompanies old age. This decline corresponds to age-related changes in muscle and/or tactile functions. This study investigated whether age-related changes in muscular strength and tactile sensibility are related to the hand function. Methods: The subjects consisted of 64 older adult females. The hand function was assessed using Perdue pegboard test. The handgrip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Tactile-pressure threshold was evaluated using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. These tests were performed on the dominant hand. All data items were compared among the four age groups (65e69 years, n ¼ 17; 70e74 years, n ¼ 16; 75e79 years, n ¼ 15; 80e85 years, n ¼ 16). Results: The scores on Perdue pegboard test showed significant differences among the four age groups, and they decreased with age. The tactile-pressure threshold was augmented with increasing age, whereas handgrip strength did not differ among the four age groups. A significant relationship was observed between the Perdue pegboard test score and tactile-pressure threshold (r ¼ À0.61), but not the handgrip strength (r ¼ 0.18). Conclusion: These results suggested that the manual dexterity in the hand function was attenuated with increasing age. We considered that this attenuating effect was associated with a decline in tactile sensibility rather than a change in the muscular strength of the hand.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of vertebral column alignment on respiratory function in elderly female subjects.[Subjects] The subjects were 23 female community-dwelling elderly (age: 76.8 ± 5.1 years old, BMI: 23.6 ± 2.3).[Methods] The thoracic kyphosis angle was determined by adding the angles of the superior and inferior vertebral bodies from the 1st to the 12th thoracic vertebrae, and the lumbar lordosis angle was determined by adding the angles of the superior and inferior vertebral bodies from the 1st to the 5th lumbar vertebrae. For evaluation of respiratory function, flow volume was measured with determination of forced vital capacity (FVC), % forced vital capacity (%FVC), one second forced expiratory volume (FEV 1.0 ), and one second forced expiratory volume rate (FEV 1.0 %). [Results] No significant correlation was found with any respiratory parameter for the thoracic kyphosis angle, but the lumbar lordosis angle showed a significant correlation with FVC , %FVC , and FEV 1.0 .[Conclusion] For impacts of vertebral column aligment on respiratory function the lumbar lordosis angle may be more important than the thoracic kyphosis angle.