In the Chest Expansion Test, a positive result is defined as which of the following?

• A. Males < 2 inches and Females < 1.5 inches
• B. Males < 2 inches only
• C. Females < 1.5 inches only
• D. Any reduction in chest expansion indicates risk

Answer: (A)

The test checks how much the chest can expand during deep inspiration, reflecting chest wall mobility and inspiratory effort. A positive result is defined by reduced chest expansion that crosses sex-specific cutoffs: less than two inches in men and less than one and a half inches in women. This threshold recognizes anatomical differences between sexes and helps identify limited chest wall movement or restrictive mechanics, which could indicate an underlying issue. Reductions smaller than these cutoffs can occur due to technique variation or individual differences, so not every slight decrease is considered positive. The idea that any reduction signals risk is too sensitive, and applying a single threshold to both sexes would miss abnormalities in one group.