Respiratory Muscle Strength: New Technology for Easy Assessment.

Vasileios T Stavrou,Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis,Zoe Daniil,Konstantinos N Tourlakopoulos

doi:10.7759/cureus.14803

Vasileios T Stavrou, Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.14803

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Journal: Cureus	Publication Date: May 2, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Thessaly

Abstract

Respiratory muscle strength (RMS) is associated with good functionality of the respiratory system. For the general population, it refers to the quality of life, and for the athletes, is related to greater performance. In this study, a comparison was made between two different portable devices, MicroRPM (CareFusion, Kent, United Kingdom) and AirOFit PRO™ (AirOFit, Copenhagen, Denmark), assessing the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). Twenty-one male professional athletes were evaluated on a voluntary basis and randomly used the devices for RMS assessment, while all athletes underwent Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), pulmonary function tests and ergospirometry. All measurements of MIP and MEP were made with the same methodology and all participants after the efforts answered the question "easy-operation device-information" and dyspnea and/or respiratory fatigue during trials with the CR10 scale. Results showed statistical differences between VO2max and maximal respiratory strength both for AirOFit PRO™ (r=0.526, p=0.014) and in MicroPRM (r=0.567, p=0.007). The PSQI score showed statistical differences in % of predicted values in MEP with the AirOFit PRO™ device (r=0.478, p=0.028). Athletes reported that the AirOFit PRO™ device is easier in operation as a device and provides more information during trial comparisons to MicroPRM (p=0.001). Athletes reported that the AirOFit PRO™ device is easier in operation as a device and provides more information during the trial compared to MicroPRM. The results did not show differences in RMS (MIP and MEP) between devices (p>0.05). For the people who want to train with tele-exercise and/or tele-rehabilitation, the AirOFit PRO™ device would be an important and safe training solution.

Highlights

Respiratory muscles can become tired and accelerate or aggravate respiratory failure
The low functionality of respiratory muscles is associated with several diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [1] with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis [2] and quality of life in the general population [3]
The results of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire showed that according to their sleeping habits athletes are classified as good sleepers

Summary

Introduction

Respiratory muscles can become tired and accelerate or aggravate respiratory failure. The strength of respiratory muscles is an indicator of the good functionality of the respiratory system. The low functionality of respiratory muscles is associated with several diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [1] with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis [2] and quality of life in the general population [3]. Respiratory muscle strength (RMS) is related to athletic performance [4,5], while a lot of athletes are looking for various techniques to increase the strength of respiratory muscles in order to improve their performance [6]. To improve RMS, it is important to be reliably evaluated [7]. We had two hypotheses: If there are differences in processes involved in the devices which could affect the RMS assessment, and if there are differences between devices in parameter "easy-operation device-information."

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