Inspiratory muscle endurance in obese and eutrophic individuals

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare inspiratory muscle endurance and hemodynamic responses between obese and eutrophic individuals. In this cross-sectional study participated 20 obese individuals (31±6 years old, 10 men, 37.5±4.7 kg/m2) and 20 healthy subjects (29±8 years old, 10 men, 23.2±1.5 kg/m2). Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength were measured by a manovacuometry through the determination of the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), respectively. Inspiratory muscle endurance was determined by na incremental test with an initial load of 50% MIP and increments of 10% MIP every 3 minutes until the individual was unable to continue the test. Obese (470±326 sec) showed a reduction in inspiratory muscle endurance compared to eutrophic individuals (651±215 sec). Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength did not differ between groups. Inspiratory muscle endurance test induced a similar increase in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, as well as in heart rate in obese and eutrophic individuals. In conclusion, obese show reduction of inspiratory muscle resistance compared to eutrophic individuals, but the hemodynamic responses induced by inspiratory muscle resistance test did not differ between obese and eutrophic patients.