The aim of the study was to determine whether the Borg dyspnea scale could be a useful and simple marker to predict respiratory muscle weakness in ALS. From April 1997 to 2001, respiratory function was perfomed in 72 patients together with the Borg score in both the upright (uBorg) and supine (sBorg) positions. Mean upright VC was 81 ± 24 % predicted, SNIP was 55 ± 26 % predicted, PImax was 57 ...

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a devastating and progressive neurological disorder in which degeneration of motor neurones results in weakness and wasting of the dependent muscles. The prevalence of MND is approximately five per 100 000 and approximately 30% of patients have primary bulbar symptoms. Half of the patients die within 36 months of experiencing the first symptom. Presentation with v...

Skeletal-muscle (both respiratory and limb) abnormalities are common and can have profound effects in patients with chronic inflammatory states such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Causes include direct inflammatory-mediator effects on muscle function, malnutrition, blood-gas abnormalities, compromised oxygen delivery from right-heart dysfunction, electrolyte imbalances, drugs,...

[Purpose] The current study was designed to investigate the difference in lung capacity and muscle strengthening related to respiration depending on the level of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) through tests of respiratory function and respiratory pressure. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 49 children with CP who were classified as be...

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a devastating and progressive neurological disorder in which degeneration of motor neurones results in weakness and wasting of the dependent muscles. The prevalence of MND is approximately five per 100 000 and approximately 30% of patients have primary bulbar symptoms. Half of the patients die within 36 months of experiencing the first symptom. Presentation with v...

Interstitial lung diseases limit daily activities, impair quality of life and result in (exertional) dyspnoea. This has mainly been attributed to a decline in lung function and impaired gas exchange. However, the contribution of respiratory muscle dysfunction to these limitations remains to be conclusively investigated. Interstitial lung disease patients and matched controls performed body plet...

Introduction. Obesity is a condition that causes damage to the respiratory function. However, studies have demonstrated that weight loss due to bariatric surgery has resulted in a huge improvement on some lung volumes, but controversy still persists regarding the behavior of the respiratory muscle strength and IRV (inspiratory reserve volume). Objective. To evaluate the effect of weight loss, a...

OBJECTIVE It was study the relationship between respiratory muscle strength and forced vital capacity (FVC) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) versus healthy subjects. METHODS Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength [maximal inspiratory (PImax), maximal expiratory (PEmax) and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP)] were assessed in patients with ALS and healthy s...

Though the development of physical limitations associated with neuromuscular disease is often apparent to the clinician, the development of neuromuscular-induced respiratory muscle weakness can be insidious. Respiratory muscle weakness is often overlooked by the clinician, particularly when weakness of the extremities limits physical exertion and no respiratory compensation for exertion is requ...

BACKGROUND Breathlessness is a common problem in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, and respiratory muscle strength has been proposed to play an important role in causing breathlessness in these patients. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between respiratory muscle strength and the severity of CHF, and the influence of respiratory muscle strength on abnormal ...