Exercise capacity, respiratory mechanics and posture in mouth breathers

Revista Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia

Morcillo, André Moreno¹  Sakano, Eulália²  Okuro, Renata Tiemi³ 

[1] Campinas State University;Santa Catarina State University;UNICAMP

关键词: exercise tolerance;    mouth breathing;    posture;    respiratory mechanics.;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1808-86942011000500020

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Associacao Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cervicofacial

【 摘 要 】

Chronic and persistent mouth or oral breathing (OB) has been associated with postural changes. Although posture changes in OB causes decreased respiratory muscle strength, reduced chest expansion and impaired pulmonary ventilation with consequences in the exercise capacity, few studies have verified all these assumptions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate exercise tolerance, respiratory muscle strength and body posture in oral breathing (OB) compared with nasal breathing (NB) children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional contemporary cohort study that included OB and NB children aged 8-11 years old. Children with obesity, asthma, chronic respiratory diseases, neurological and orthopedic disorders, and cardiac conditions were excluded. All participants underwent a postural assessment, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), the six-minute walk test (6MWT), and otorhinolaryngologic evaluation. RESULTS: There were 107 children (45 OB and 62 NB). There was an association between abnormal cervical posture and breathing pattern: 36 (80.0%) OB and 30 (48.4%) NB presented abnormal head posture (OR=4.27 [95% CI: 1.63-11,42], p<0.001). The mean MIP and MEP were lower in OB (p=0.003 and p=0.004). CONCLUSION: OB children had cervical spine postural changes and decreased respiratory muscle strength compared with NB.

【 授权许可】

CC BY