"Is Inspiratory Muscle Strength Altered in Women with Obesity? Comparative Analysis and Predictive Equations"

Abstract

including the respiratory system [7]. According to Magnani and Cataneo [7], obese individuals have respiratory muscle dysfunction due to the changes that occur in the lungs, thoracic wall and diaphragm, which alter the respiratory mechanics and exert a negative impact on the gas exchange. These changes are believed to overload the respiratory muscles, increasing the mechanical work involved in respiration [6][7][8][9][10][11]. The evaluation of respiratory muscle strength, which is measured by maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures, has been used since the 1960s [12] due to its important diagnostic role in lung conditions, such as chronic