Most people understand that chronic slouching can cause back pain and good posture is important to long term back health, but did you know slouching can also decrease lung capacity dramatically?
Thoracic kyphosis, or the classic upper back slouching, can cause dramatic decreases in lung capacity and function. Below are some examples of thoracic kyphosis:
Thoracic kyphosis, or the classic upper back slouching, can cause dramatic decreases in lung capacity and function. Below are some examples of thoracic kyphosis:
 Image 1 |  Image 2 |  Image 3 |
Thoracic kyphosis is the excessive rounding of the thoracic spine compared to optimal position as seen below:
Optimal thoracic posture vs thoracic kyphosis
Thoracic kyphosis (or excessive thoracic flexion) is very closely linked with several other posture imbalances that play off each other including: forward head posture, cervical flexion, rounded shoulders, scapular abduction and winging, internal humeral rotation, and depressed ribs. Images 1, 2, and 3 above show varying degrees of forward head posture, cervical flexion, rounded shoulders, scapular abduction and winging, and internal humeral rotation. Images 1 and 2 show depressed ribs as does the thoracic kyphosis drawing above (notice the difference in rib position in the two drawings).
The lungs are positioned inside the rib cage and normal or optimal thoracic spine, rib, and scapula position are needed for normal breathing and full lung capacity. Here is how the NIH describes breathing:
"When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts (tightens) and moves downward. This increases the space in your chest cavity, into which your lungs expand. The intercostal muscles between your ribs also help enlarge the chest cavity. They contract to pull your rib cage both upward and outward when you inhale.
As your lungs expand, air is sucked in through your nose or mouth. The air travels down your windpipe and into your lungs. After passing through your bronchial tubes, the air finally reaches and enters the alveoli (air sacs).
When you breathe out, or exhale, your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward into the chest cavity. The intercostal muscles between the ribs also relax to reduce the space in the chest cavity. As the space in the chest cavity gets smaller, air rich in carbon dioxide is forced out of your lungs and windpipe, and then out of your nose or mouth.
The lungs are positioned inside the rib cage and normal or optimal thoracic spine, rib, and scapula position are needed for normal breathing and full lung capacity. Here is how the NIH describes breathing:
"When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts (tightens) and moves downward. This increases the space in your chest cavity, into which your lungs expand. The intercostal muscles between your ribs also help enlarge the chest cavity. They contract to pull your rib cage both upward and outward when you inhale.
As your lungs expand, air is sucked in through your nose or mouth. The air travels down your windpipe and into your lungs. After passing through your bronchial tubes, the air finally reaches and enters the alveoli (air sacs).
When you breathe out, or exhale, your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward into the chest cavity. The intercostal muscles between the ribs also relax to reduce the space in the chest cavity. As the space in the chest cavity gets smaller, air rich in carbon dioxide is forced out of your lungs and windpipe, and then out of your nose or mouth.
When someone has thoracic kyphosis and depressed ribs the thoracic cavity is decreased in size and the rib cage cannot expand to its full size. The more thoracic flexion or kyphosis someone has the less lung capacity they will have. Rene Cailliet M.D., the famous medical author and former director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at USC, says lung capacity can be decreased by as much as 30% in these individuals.
Lung capacity is something that is important for professional and top level athletes where the difference between winning and losing is often less than 1%. But lung capacity is also important for all active individuals who need their full lung capacity to enjoy running, biking, skiing, hiking, gardening, golfing, and playing sports.
Lung capacity is something that is important for professional and top level athletes where the difference between winning and losing is often less than 1%. But lung capacity is also important for all active individuals who need their full lung capacity to enjoy running, biking, skiing, hiking, gardening, golfing, and playing sports.
 Professional distance running Mary Cain showing thoracic kyphosis. Mary will experience decreased lung capacity and decreased performance because of her poor posture. |  Runner showing very good thoracic spine posture. He will be able to use his full lung capacity and run to his full potential because of his good posture. |
Lung capacity is also very important to people who have lung diseases like COPD, asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, pulmonary edema, and bronchitis where their lung function is already decreased and their life depends on getting enough oxygen to stay alive and enjoy life.
Decreased lung capacity caused by the poor posture of thoracic kyphosis puts in increased stress on the heart and can cause heart disease, such as cor pulmonale. Cor pulmonale is the abnormal enlargement of the right side of the heart as a result of a disease of the lungs. People with severe thoracic kyphosis have even been know to have died from cor pulmonale when left untreated.
Decreased lung capacity caused by the poor posture of thoracic kyphosis puts in increased stress on the heart and can cause heart disease, such as cor pulmonale. Cor pulmonale is the abnormal enlargement of the right side of the heart as a result of a disease of the lungs. People with severe thoracic kyphosis have even been know to have died from cor pulmonale when left untreated.
Thinking about postures affect on lung capacity: The woman on the left would have the most compromised lung capacity and function because of her severe kyphosis. The woman on the right would have full lung capacity and normal function because of her very good upright posture.
If you believe you have some thoracic kyphosis and are ready to learn some exercises that will help restore thoracic extension and improve your posture and lung capacity, contact me today and I'd be happy to offer you a free posture evaluation either in-person or over Skype or FaceTime.
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