Assessment of the Functional State of Respiratory Muscles: Methodological Aspects and Data Interpretation

Abstract

Abstract—The task of this review was to acquaint specialists with the methodical aspects of studies devoted to the function of human respiratory muscles and the most important points in the interpretation of investigation results. The paper discusses specialized aspects in measuring the maximal respiratory pressures, the main principles of the electromyographic techniques, as well as a possible application of the tension–time index calculation in its various modifications to the assessment of the functional state of inspiratory muscles and the determination of their reserve potential in the norm and diseases that generate additional loads on the respiratory muscles. The functional assessment of respiratory muscles is significant for differential diagnostics in some diseases of the bronchopulmonary, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular systems. The analysis of the functional potential contained in the motor apparatus of the external respiratory system may prove to be very useful for specialists in experimental physiology and athletic and rehabilitation medicine.