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Abstract Background Gravity, and thus body position, can affect the regional distribution of lung ventilation and blood flow. Therefore, body positioning is a potential tool to improve regional ventilation, thereby possibly enhancing the effect of respiratory physiotherapy interventions. In this proof-of-concept study, functional respiratory imaging (FRI) was used to objectively assess effects of body position on regional airflow distribution in the lungs. Methods Five healthy volunteers were recruited. The participants were asked during FRI first to lie in supine position, afterwards in standardized right lateral position. Results In right lateral position there was significantly more regional ventilation also described as Imaging Airflow Distribution in the right lung than in the left lung (P