Abstract
Respiratory muscle strength is generally evaluated by the maximal respiratory pressure. The maximal respiratory pressure, which varies with various factors, is affected most largely by a change in lung capacity. Deterioration of respiratory muscles causes low alveolar ventilation, and results in hypoxemia along with hypercapnia. It is therefore important for the management of patients with respiratory diseases to observe deterioration of respiratory muscles. Respiratory muscles are deteriorated by several causes, and this article introduces obstructive ventilation disorders and restraint ventilation disorders as typical examples. The improvement in symptoms caused by deterioration of respiratory muscles is of importance for the patients, and the article also introduces the method of respiratory muscle training.
