Biomaterial Database

Bracing arms increases the capacity for sustained hyperpnea. 1988

R B Banzett, and G P Topulos, and D E Leith, and C S Nations

Department of Environmental Science and Physiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.

Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently lean forward, bracing their arms. We wondered whether the resulting shoulder girdle support improves the function of the ventilatory pump. We tested this possibility in 4 normal men by measuring the maximal ventilation that they could voluntarily sustain for 4 min while seated with their elbows braced firmly on a table and while seated with their elbows held just above the table. Bracing the arms increased ventilatory capacity significantly in all subjects, but the magnitude of the change was small (8%). We attribute the change to improved function of the accessory muscles that expand the rib cage. We speculate that this effect assumes greater importance in patients with COPD, whose diaphragms are flattened and ineffective, because such patients depend more on the inspiratory muscles of the rib cage.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006985	Hyperventilation	A pulmonary ventilation rate faster than is metabolically necessary for the exchange of gases. It is the result of an increased frequency of breathing, an increased tidal volume, or a combination of both. It causes an excess intake of oxygen and the blowing off of carbon dioxide.	Hyperventilations
D007320	Inspiratory Capacity	The maximum volume of air that can be inspired after reaching the end of a normal, quiet expiration. It is the sum of the TIDAL VOLUME and the INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME. Common abbreviation is IC.	Capacities, Inspiratory,Capacity, Inspiratory,Inspiratory Capacities
D008173	Lung Diseases, Obstructive	Any disorder marked by obstruction of conducting airways of the lung. AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION may be acute, chronic, intermittent, or persistent.	Obstructive Lung Diseases,Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases,Lung Disease, Obstructive,Obstructive Lung Disease,Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,Pulmonary Disease, Obstructive,Pulmonary Diseases, Obstructive
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D012120	Respiration Disorders	Diseases of the respiratory system in general or unspecified or for a specific respiratory disease not available.	Disorder, Respiration,Disorders, Respiration,Respiration Disorder
D012123	Pulmonary Ventilation	The total volume of gas inspired or expired per unit of time, usually measured in liters per minute.	Respiratory Airflow,Ventilation Tests,Ventilation, Pulmonary,Expiratory Airflow,Airflow, Expiratory,Airflow, Respiratory,Test, Ventilation,Tests, Ventilation,Ventilation Test
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man