Characteristics of the study subjects (N = 39).

IntroductionLateral positioning improves pulmonary mechanics and lung volumes, but its effects in healthy adults remain unclear due to individual variability.ObjectiveTo analyze the acute effects of lateral body positioning on regional lung ventilation and lung volumes in healthy adults.MethodsThis within-subject study included two protocols: supine and left-lateral position (unilateral) with repeated measures and supine, left, and right-lateral positions (bilateral). All positions were performed at 30° for 5 minutes on an automated rotation bed. Electrical Impedance Tomography measured regional lung ventilation (%) and end-expiratory lung volumes (EELV) across four lung regions: (anterior right [AR] and left [AL]; posterior right [PR], and left [PL]). Linear mixed models assessed the influence of body position and individual variability on regional ventilation and lung volumes, while the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method compared between right- and left-lateral positioning.ResultsIn the unilateral protocol (n = 29; 58.6% male; 22.8 ± 4.0 years), left-lateral positioning decreased regional ventilation in nondependent regions (AR: −0.96%, PR: −1.63%) and increased it in dependent regions (PL: 1.17%, AL: 1.42%) versus supine (p p p > 0.05). However, EELV varied significantly with body position (p p = 1.000).ConclusionsLateral positioning improves regional ventilation in dependent lung regions and increases EELV in nondependent and posterior dependent lung regions, regardless of side.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov [NCT06044896]