The effect of breast size on ventilatory function in women
Item
- Title
- The effect of breast size on ventilatory function in women
- Author(s)
- Henshall Gemma
- Abstract
-
The perception of the female breast by society has several sociological and psychological implications for women. The effect of the breasts on the musculoskelatal system has been relatively well researched and there have been several studies assessing women's ventilatory function following reduction mammaplasty. Knowledge of the implications of a reduced lung function and overall mortality has been established. However there is a paucity of data addressing the effect of normal amounts of breast tissue on lung function and therefore health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the female breast on ventilatory function in women without macromastia. This study used 17 subjects. Chest diameter was measured at the axilla, nipple and xiphoid at rest, inspiration and expiration. Lung function was measured using spirometry to asses changes in FVC (forced vital capacity), FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), and PEF (peak expiratory flow rate). All measurements were assed with the bra on and off.
Results showed that the breast volume had no significant effect on any of the tested lung function parameters or chest expansion. However trends were starting to appear suggesting a possible relationship between increasing breast volume and decreasing FVC and FEV1. The bra does not appear to affect lung function or chest expansion either, in this study.
This study has shown that in women without mammary hypertrophy their ventilatory system does not appear to be compromised. - presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 0
- Date Submitted
- 1.1.1970 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13669
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Henshall Gemma, “The effect of breast size on ventilatory function in women”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 3, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.org/s/orw/item/1088