To investigate the mechanisms which enable the diaphragm to preserve ventilation when the work of breathing is elevated, we measured diaphragmatic blood flow (Q di) and oxygen consumption (VO2 di) in lightly anesthetized dogs. The animals were studied when they breathed quietly, when they inhaled 5% CO2 in 21% or 14% O2, or when they inhaled these gas mixtures through moderate to severe inspira...

OBJECTIVE The main symptom of lung cancer is dyspnea which can lead to depression, anxiety, limited independent activities, and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of airflow stimulation from a hand-held fan as nonpharmacological palliative intervention on dyspnea in patients with lung cancer. METHODS This study used open, randomized, controlled, cr...

This is the first reported detailed electrophysiological study of diaphragmatic myoclonus. An 86 year old woman had rapid, intermittent epigastric pulsations. Neurological examination and imaging studies of the brain and spinal cord were normal. Needle EMG showed rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles at 4 to 5 Hz. These contractions were often associated with s...

The major determinants of VO2 resp and, thus, diaphragmatic endurance are the tension-time index, work rate and lung volume. Changes in breathing pattern that adversely affect any of these factors can impair diaphragmatic endurance. A TTdi above 0.15-0.18 indicates a potentially fatiguing pattern of contraction. However, fatigue may occur at a TTdi below 0.15 if the work rate is sufficiently hi...

Correspondence to: Eliane C. Rodrigues Corrêa Physiotherapy Department Federal University of Santa Maria – RS Rua Tuiuti 2462/803, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97050420 e-mail: [email protected] Abstract This article studied the relationship among respiratory, masticatory and cervical muscles and the factors that contribute for TMD. It consists in a review of studies approaching dysfunctional br...

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. It a cerebrovascular disease, characterized by decreased blood supply to brain tissues. known that patients with stroke have respiratory muscle weakness. Aim: To evaluate effects Resistive Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises on pulmonary functions in chronic stroke. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. 20 s...

We previously compared the effects of increased respiratory muscle work during whole body exercise and at rest on diaphragmatic fatigue and showed that the amount of diaphragmatic force output required to cause fatigue was reduced significantly during exercise (Babcock et al., J Appl Physiol 78: 1710, 1995). In this study, we use positive-pressure proportional assist ventilation (PAV) to unload...