Our results demonstrate that this new processing approach for RMP seems to be a valid tool for estimating V with sufficient accuracy during lying, sitting and standing and under various exercise conditions.

Precise measurement of sedentary behavior and physical activity is necessary to characterize the dose-response relationship between these variables and health outcomes. The most frequently used methods employ portable devices to measure mechanical or physiological parameters (eg, pedometers, heart rate monitors, accelerometers). There is considerable variability in the accuracy of total energy expenditure (TEE) estimates from these devices. This review examines the potential of measurement of ventilation (VE) to provide an estimate of free-living TEE. The existence of a linear relationship between VE and energy expenditure (EE) was demonstrated in the mid-20th century. However, few studies have investigated this parameter as an estimate of EE due to the cumbersome equipment required to measure VE. Portable systems that measure VE without the use of a mouthpiece have existed for about 20 years (respiratory inductive plethysmography). However, these devices are adapted for clinical monitoring and are too cumbersome to be used in conditions of daily life. Technological innovations of recent years (small electromagnetic coils glued on the chest/back) suggest that VE could be estimated from variations in rib cage and abdominal distances. This method of TEE estimation is based on the development of individual/group calibration curves to predict the relationship between ventilation and oxygen consumption. The new method provides a reasonably accurate estimate of TEE in different free-living conditions such as sitting, standing, and walking. Further work is required to integrate these electromagnetic coils into a jacket or T-shirt to create a wearable device suitable for long-term use in free-living conditions.

The precise measurement of respiratory variables, such as tidal volume, minute ventilation, and respiratory rate, is necessary to monitor respiratory status, overcome several diseases, improve patient health conditions and reduce health care costs. This measurement has conventionally been performed by breathing into a mouthpiece connected to a flow rate measuring device. However, a mouthpiece can be uncomfortable for the subject and is difficult to use for long-term monitoring. Other noninvasive systems and devices have been developed that do not require a mouthpiece to quantitatively measure respiratory variables. These techniques are based on measuring size changes of the rib cage (RC) and abdomen (ABD), as lung volume is known to be a function of these variables. Among these systems, we distinguish respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP), respiratory magnetometer plethysmography (RMP), and optoelectronic plethysmography devices. However, these devices should be previously calibrated for the correct evaluation of respiratory variables. The most popular calibration methods are isovolume manoeuvre calibration (ISOCAL), qualitative diagnostic calibration (QDC), multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The aim of this review is first to present how thoracoabdominal breathing distances can be used to estimate respiratory variables and second to present the different techniques and calibration methods used for this purpose.