PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Denise Paisani
AU  - Desiderio Cano
AU  - Adriana Lunardi
AU  - Cibele Marques da Silva
AU  - Celso Carvalho
TI  - Influence of gender on thoracoabdominal volumes and inspiratory muscular activity during quiet and deep breathings: A cross-sectional study
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P1327
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1327.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1327.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Differences between gender on resting pulmonary volumes and inspiratory muscular activity during quiet and deep breathings remains unknown. Objective: To investigate the influence of gender on thoracoabdominal volumes and inspiratory muscular activity analyzed concurrently during quiet and deep breathings. Methods: 136 subjects with normal lung function: 55 males (61±13 yrs, 25.2±4.6 Kg/m2) and 81 females (55±15 yrs, 25.0±5.1 Kg/m2) performed quiet followed by deep breaths. Total Chest wall (VCW), upper (VURC) and lower ribcage (VLRC) and abdominal (VABD) compartmental volumes were quantified by optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) concurrently with sternocleidomastoid (SCM), upper (UIC) and lower intercostals (LIC) activity quantified by surface electromyography. One way repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc Student Newman-Keuls were used and significance level was set at 5%. Results: During deep breathing all volumes, except VLRC, were greater in males than in females (VCW=1,845±426 mL vs. 1,313±350 mL, VPRC=563±206mL vs. 481±203mL, VABD=886±306mL vs. 466±197mL, p<0.001). In contrary, inspiratory muscular activity was higher in females than in males in LIC (11.0±8.5µV vs. 8.2±5.1µV, p<0.05) and SCM (23.9±25.0µV vs. 17.3±12.6µV, p<0.01). No differences were observed during quiet breathing. Conclusion: Males breathes greater thoracoabdominal volumes; however, deep breaths require higher inspiratory muscular activity by females.