Maximal respiratory pressure in healthy 20 to 89 year-old sedentary individuals of central São Paulo State.

Objectives: To evaluate respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in a sample composed exclusively of healthy sedentary individuals and to compare with predicted values, to investigate the relationship between maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and age, weight and height, and propose predictive equations of MIP and MEP for this population.

Methods: Subjects were 140 healthy and sedentary individuals: 70 males (55+/-20 years) and 70 females (54+/-21 years), separated into groups according to age. The RMS was obtained with an aneroid vacuum manometer (+/-300 cmH2O).

Prevalence of reduced respiratory muscle strength in institutionalized elderly people.

Context And Objectives: Respiratory muscle strength is relevant to the clinical situation of elderly patients, particularly those presenting with respiratory or cardiac diseases. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the respiratory muscle strength of institutionalized elderly women, compare this with predicted values for the Brazilian population and calculate the correlation with age and anthropometric characteristics.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study at the Department of Physiotherapy of Universidade Camilo Castelo Branco.