How is chest expansion affected in geriatric patients?

• A. Decreased but still symmetrical
• B. Decreased and asymmetric
• C. Normal
• D. Increased with symmetry

Answer: (A)

As people age, the chest wall becomes stiffer and the lungs lose some elastic recoil, so the movement of the chest during inspiration decreases. This reduction in chest expansion happens because calcification of costal cartilages, arthritic changes, and weaker intercostal muscles limit how far the chest can open. However, these age-related changes generally affect both sides of the chest equally, so the decreased expansion is usually symmetrical. If expansion were noticeably reduced on one side or uneven, that would point to a localized problem such as pleural effusion, pneumothorax, or focal lung disease.