INTRODUCTION: The effects of posture on respiratory function has motivated research in order to detect changes in the adaptation mechanisms related to changes in body posture. The importance of this knowledge is to understand how these changes may affect respiratory function in healthy subjects and in special conditions such as obesity and pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a literature review to describe the knowledge produced about the changes in lung function in different body positions, specially in the sitting posture. METHODS: The selected keywords were: posture, sitting or seated posture, respiratory tests and lung or respiratory function, then we defined that the research period was 10 years, from 2000 to 2010 (inclusive) and the databases searched were: SciELO, PEDro, Cochrane and Pubmed. RESULTS: We found that early research focused on respiratory function changes found in significant changes in body posture, often in healthy individuals. The scientific improvement allowed to incorporate technological methods of assessment of respiratory function. In studies of sitting posture is observed that the changes are significant in individuals with chronic lung, heart and elderly, among others, and that even in healthy subjects the changes in the function tests can exceed the range of values considered normal for a given position. CONCLUSION: It takes more study to determine the point at which these changes can be significant in healthy subjects and what the possible alternatives to minimize these effects.
Posture; Respiratory tests; Sitting; Lung
