MEASUREMENT OF RESPIRATORY MUSCLE FORCES BASED ON MAXIMAL INSPIRATORYAND EXPIRATORY PRESSURES

We measured the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures of 200 he althy subjects (94 men and 106 women) using a membrane manometer desig ned by the authors. The reference intervals for maximal inspiratory pr essure in men were -5 to -15 kPa, and for maximal expiratory pressure 9-21 kPa. For women the reference intervals for maximal inspiratory pr essure were -3 to -14 kPa and for maximal expiratory pressure 5-15 kPa . In clinical practice only the lower limits are significant. The diff erences between subjects of different ages were small, thus age has li ttle bearing on the strength of respiratory muscles in healthy men and women.