Reference values of chest expansion among Thai healthy people aged 20-70 years

Abstract

Introduction: Chest expansion measurement is one of the methods for physical examination, evaluation, prognosis and follow up for the progression of diseases. However, there are no reference value of chest expansion among Thai people. This study was designed to assess chest expansion of Thai healthy people.

Method: The participants were Thai healthy people, aged between 20 - 70 years (400 participants). Tape measurement was used to assess chest expansion in upper lobe, middle lobe, and lower lobe. The value of chest expansion was obtained from the average value of the 3 measurements.

Result: The chest expansion of upper lobe in males aged 20 - 29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 70 years, were 2.64 ± 0.72, 2.23 ± 0.57, 2.17 ± 0.72, 2.00 ± 0.87, 1.59 ± 0.76 cm., respectively. The chest expansion of middle lobe were 3.88 ± 0.68, 3.41 ± 0.74, 3.54 ± 0.73, 3.20 ± 0.90, 2.45 ± 0.75 cm., respectively and those of lower lobe were 5.13 ± 0.79, 4.70 ± 0.73, 4.41 ± 0.72, 4.12 ± 0.96, 3.31 ± 0.82 cm., respectively. For female, chest expansion of upper lobe were 2.97 ± 0.92, 2.03 ± 0.48, 1.87 ± 0.56, 1.56 ± 0.46, 1.44 ± 0.52 cm., respectively, chest expansion of middle lobe were 3.50 ± 0.74, 3.07 ± 0.64, 2.94 ± 0.81, 2.68 ± 0.67, 2.16 ± 0.50 cm., respectively, chest expansion of lower lobe were 4.27 ± 0.71, 4.06 ± 0.88, 3.88 ± 1.00, 3.78 ± 0.67, 3.18 ± 0.56 cm. respectively. Higher chest expansion was reported in male than those in female for upper lobe aged 50 - 59 (p = 0.014), and for middle lobe in all aged groups except aged 60 - 70. For lower lobe aged 20 - 29 (p = 0.000), 30 - 39 (p = 0.001), and 40 - 49 (p = 0.001). Finally, there was a negative relationship between age and chest expansion.

Discussion and Conclusion: In some age groups, chest expansions in male were higher than those of female. Moreover, chest expansion declined when age increased.

Key words: Chest expansion, Reference values, Thai people, Healthy