Effect of unilateral breathing exercises on regional lung ventilation

Tucker, B Jenkins, S Cheong, D Robinson, P

B. Tucker et al., Effect of unilateral breathing exercises on regional lung ventilation, NUCL MED C, 20(9), 1999, pp. 815-821

30

INGLESE

Article

Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging

NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS

0143-3636 → ACNP

20

9

1999

815 - 821

ISI

0143-3636(199909)20:9<815:EOUBEO>2.0.ZU;2-W

We investigated the effect of a unilateral thoracic expansion exercise (TEE ), a breathing manoeuvre used by physiotherapists, on regional lung ventila tion Nine trained physiotherapists aged 22-37 years completed the study. Te chnegas lung ventilation scans were used to determine the effect of a right unilateral TEE performed when sitting. This was compared with a maximal de ep breath. Total radioactivity in each lung was determined. Each lung was s ectioned into three equal zones (upper, middle and lower) and the ratio of radioactivity for each of the corresponding lung zones calculated. Ventilat ion was preferentially distributed to the right lung in all participants du ring both breathing manoeuvres. The mean (+/- S.E.M.) radioactivity ratios (right/left lung) were greater during a unilateral TEE (1.17 +/- 0.02) than during a deep breath (1.07 +/- 0.01). Seven participants achieved signific antly greater ventilation to the right middle (1.15 +/- 0.03, P = 0.02) and lower zones (1.34 +/- 0.03, P = 0.02) during a unilateral TEE than to the corresponding zones on the left; this was evident soon after the initiation of the breath. The findings of this study show that relative regional vent ilation to the ipsilateral lung can be increased during a unilateral TEE in trained individuals. ((C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).