Respiratory muscle testing

This article focuses on the respiratory muscles as an essential component of the respiratory "pump." Respiratory muscle impairment can be assessed by careful history and physical examination, and by a variety of tools which include pulmonary function tests, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures. Measurement of diaphragmatic and mouth pressures, phrenic nerve stimulation, magnetic stimulation, electromyography and monitoring metabolic changes in the muscle have made us better understand respiratory muscle physiology.