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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
08:34

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns

Published on: September 16, 2019

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Breath Motor Pattern Index (BMPI): An Observational Measure of

Aleksandra Moluszys1, Łukasz Mański1, Mirella Kozakiewicz2

  • 1Gdansk Medical Academy of Applied Sciences, 80-335 Gdansk, Poland.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The Breath Motor Pattern Index (BMPI) is a new observational tool that reliably assesses respiratory motor patterns in children. It shows promise for clinical use in evaluating breathing as part of the motor system.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric motor control research
  • Respiratory physiology in development
  • Clinical assessment tools for children

Background:

  • Breathing is increasingly recognized as a key component of the motor system, influencing postural control and movement.
  • Current clinical assessments of pediatric respiratory function primarily focus on physiological parameters, lacking tools to evaluate breathing as an organized motor pattern.
  • This gap highlights the need for novel methods to assess the motor organization of breathing in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and preliminarily validate the Breath Motor Pattern Index (BMPI), an observational tool for assessing respiratory motor pattern organization in children.
  • To establish the reliability and validity of the BMPI in a diverse pediatric cohort.
  • To explore the potential clinical applicability of the BMPI in understanding breathing within the broader motor system.

Main Methods:

  • A scoping review identified key components of respiratory motor pattern organization.
  • The BMPI was developed based on review findings and evaluated in 210 children (0-72 months) across healthy, neurological, and respiratory disorder groups.
  • Inter-rater/test-retest reliability (ICC), measurement error (SEM, MDC95), and construct validity (correlation with GMFM-88, group comparisons) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • The BMPI demonstrated excellent inter-rater (ICC=0.998) and test-retest (ICC=0.999) reliability with low measurement error (SEM=0.55, MDC95=1.53).
  • A significant correlation was found between BMPI scores and the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) (rho=0.23, p<0.001).
  • BMPI scores significantly differed across clinical groups (p<0.001), being lower in children with neurological conditions and higher in those with respiratory disorders.

Conclusions:

  • The BMPI is a promising observational tool for assessing respiratory motor pattern organization in children, with potential clinical utility.
  • Findings support the integration of breathing assessment into the broader understanding of the pediatric motor system.
  • Further psychometric validation, including responsiveness and clinical decision-making utility, is warranted for the BMPI.

Keywords:
breathing assessmentpediatric physiotherapypostural controlpsychometric validationrespiratory motor organizationrespiratory motor pattern

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