Valores de referência para resistência muscular inspiratória em crianças e adolescentes saudáveis

Abstract

Objectives: To generate reference values for two inspiratory muscle endurance protocols (IME) in healthy children and adolescents. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted including healthy children and adolescents between 4 and 18 years old. Body weight, height, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and IME (using two protocols) measurements were performed. In the incremental threshold loading a fixed load of 30% of the MIP with an increase of 10% every 2 minutes was used. In the a fixed load of 70% of the MIP was used and the time limit (Tlim) to exhaustion was measured. Results: In total, 462 participants were included, 281 performed the incremental threshold loading and 181 the maximum load protocol. There were moderate and positive correlations between IME and age, MIP, height and weight in the incremental threshold loading. However, the regression model showed that MIP and age were the best variables to predict RMI. In the maximum load protocol, weak and positive correlations with age, weight and height were found. In the regression model for this protocol, only age and height influenced the endurance. The prediction power (R2) for the incremental threshold loading was 0.65, while for the maximum load protocol was 0.15. Reproducibility measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was higher in the incremental threshold loading (0.96) compared to the maximum load protocol (0.69). Conclusion: The IME in healthy children and adolescents can be explained by age, height and MIP. The incremental threshold loading showed better results and should be the model of choice when evaluating IME in the pediatric age group.