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 (FEV1.0), and one second forced expiratory volume rate (FEV1.0%). [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 FEV1.0. [Conclusion] For impacts of vertebral column aligment on respiratory function the lumbar lordosis angle may be more important than the thoracic kyphosis angle.
