title: Maximal respiratory pressures of healthy children: comparison between obtained and predicted values.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (PImax and PEmax, respectively) obtained in Brazilian children who are healthy with reference and predicted values from previous studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respiratory muscle strength of 144 children (63 boys), aged 7 to 11 years, was assessed. A digital manovacuometer was used to measure PImax and PEmax from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively. Children were assessed in the sitting position while wearing a nose clip.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of PImax for boys and girls were 81.6 ± 20.2 and 66.1 ± 19.5 cmH2O, respectively. Mean values of PEmax in boys and girls were 95.6 ± 21.1 and 78.9 ± 19.7 cmH2O, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Published reference values demonstrated a wide diversity across age groups studied, and published equations were not successful in predicting maximal respiratory pressures; thus, the assessment of respiratory muscle strength of children should consider the minimization of ethnic and methodological differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Nóbrega
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Tania Fernandes
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Raíssa de Oliveira
authors.initials: Rde O
authors.lastname: Borja
authors.forename: Diana Amélia
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Gabriela Suéllen da Silva
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
mesh_terms: D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D045853:Exhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012015:Reference Standards; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*