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Maximal expiratory pressure in residential and non-residential school children
Dipayan Choudhuri1, Manjunath Aithal, Vasant A Kulkarni
1Department of Physiology, B.L.D.E.A's Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India. Deep - c@rediffimail.com
Objective:
Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) is a powerful indicator for respiratory muscle strength, which reflects the ability of a person to cough effectively.
Methods:
The present study was designed on healthy respiratory symptom free children of a Residential - Sainik (50) and Non-Residential (44) school children (aged 12-14 yrs) of Bijapur, to evaluate MEP in relation to their physical anthropometry. MEP (mm Hg) was determined by using a modified Black's apparatus, which is significantly higher in Residential-Sainik school children in comparison to Non-Residential school children (p < 0.01).
Results:
In both groups, MEP showed positive correlation with height (Residential, r = 0.72, p < 0.001; Non-Residential, r = 0.73, p < 0.001); weight (Residential, r = 0.73, p < 0.001; Non-Residential, r = 0.69, p < 0.001), BSA (Residential, r = 0.79, p < 0.001; Non-Residential, r = 0.72, p < 0.001) and BMI (Residential, r = 0.48, p < 0.01; Non-Residential, r = 0.34, p < 0.05), and also revealed a higher MEP in children with greater chest expansion.
Conclusion:
Possibly, routine physical exercise in residential Sainik school children attribute to their better respiratory muscle strength.