Changes in posture in people with obstructive lung conditions have been reported but the impact of these postural deviations is not well understood. A review of studies on postural changes in people with lung disease found that people with cystic fibrosis have more kyphosis (rounded back) and more scoliosis (S-curve in the spine) than healthy people. In that review and in a study that we conducted, we found that people with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have more rounded and raised shoulders than healthy people, and more kyphosis. 

Take home message: People with obstructive lung disease have changes in posture and we need to do more work to understand how these changes are related to back pain in COPD and how they affect symptoms and changes in function. 

Publications

Review of Postural Assessment in COPD 
Postural Deviations in People with COPD