RESPIRATORY MUSCLE STRENGTH IN HEALTHY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of obtained and predicted values of maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure in healthy university students. Material and Methods: This was a quantitative, cross-sectional and comparative study including 12 students aged between 20 and 39 years, sedentary, and with body mass index between 18 and 29.9. The evaluation of respiratory muscle strength was performed using the manometer apparatus according to protocols established in the literature. Categorical variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics in single frequency. Data normality was checked by Shapiro-Wilk test and then Wilcoxon test was applied for both sexes separately. The findings were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results: Of the 12 university students, 8 (66.7%) were male and presented higher means for weight (74.04), height (1.75) and BMI (23.82) compared to females. The maximum inspiratory pressure values (p<0.109 female; p <0.351 male) and maximum expiratory pressure values (p <0.109 women; p <0.463 men) obtained were found to be lower than the predicted ones in both sexes. Conclusion: Although with no statistical significance, the values obtained were found to be lower than the predicted ones in university students. DESCRIPTORS Respiratory Muscles; Students; Lung.