Postural deviations in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

ABSTRACTRATIONALE: While upper back pain in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suggests that postural dysfunction is a potential cause, the extent of postural deviation in COPD is unknown.OBJECTIVE: This study compared postural measurements in people with COPD to healthy controls and explored the relationship between posture deviations and pain in COPD.METHODS: Participants with COPD and age, gender, BMI and comorbidity-matched healthy controls. Participants underwent a postural geometric measurement in upright standing. 3-D motion analysis generated the coordinates of skeletal structures from anatomical landmarks. Participants with COPD completed questionnaires related to pain. Postural stability measures of center of pressure in the anteroposterior (A/P) and mediolateral (M/L) directions, spinal alignment, thoracic kyphosis, scapula and sternal orientation were completed.RESULTS: Twenty-one participants with COPD and 21 matched controls completed the study. The method of postural stability and...