Comparison of Respiratory Function from Sitting Position With and Without Waist Belt

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of wearing a waist belt on the changes in thickness of the diaphragm and sternocleidomastoid muscles, as well as its impact on breathing while sitting. The study was conducted with a total of 30 participants, who were randomly divided into two groups of 15. The experimental group was instructed to wear a belt, while the control group did not wear one. the methods involved having subjects seated on a chair with a backrest and maintaining a specific position for 30 minutes while measurements were taken. Pulmonary function was assessed while seated by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The movement of the diaphragm and the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle were measured using M-mode and B-mode ultrasonography. The results showed significant differences in FVC, FEV1, diaphragm movement, and chest size before and after the intervention (p<.05), for the experimental group, whereas no significant differences were observed before and after the intervention for the control group(p>.05). There were no significant differences in the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid muscles before and after the intervention in either group(p<.05). The results of this study suggest that wearing a waist belt for 30 minutes while sitting can significantly reduce FVC, FEV1, and diaphragm movement, while also increasing chest circumference compared to not wearing a waist belt.