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Noninvasive assessment of the tension–time index of inspiratory muscles at rest in obese male subjects

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 1478–1483 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of excessive mechanical load caused by obesity on the inspiratory muscle performance in obese men at rest.

METHODS:

We therefore measure at rest spirometric flows and the noninvasive tension time index of inspiratory muscle (TTmus=PI/PImax × TI/TTOT) in eight obese male subjects (body mass index (BMI)>30) and 10 controls.

RESULTS:

Spirometric flow (FEV1% pred, FVC% pred) and maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) were significantly lower in obese subjects compared to controls (P<0.001). The mean TTmus was significantly higher in obese subjects than in controls (0.136±0.003 vs 0.045±0.01). The increase in TTmus was primarily due to an increase in the ratio of mean inspiratory pressure to maximal inspiratory pressure (PI/PImax) and the duty cycle (TI/TTOT). We found a significant negative relationship between PImax and BMI (r=−0.74, P<0.001), a positive correlation between TTmus and BMI (r=0.80, P<0.001) and a negative correlation between TTmus and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r=−0.85, P< 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Excessive mechanical load caused by obesity imposes a great burden on the inspiratory muscle, which may predispose such subjects to respiratory muscle weakness at rest.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the medical staff of the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation of Corbie's Hospital for their technical assistance and the obese subjects from the Nutritional and Physical Rehabilitation Department of Corbie's Hospital for their dedication to the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Science Department, EA 3300 ‘APS and Motor Patterns: Adaptations-Rehabilitation’, Picardie Jules Verne University, Amiens Cedex, France

    M Chlif, D Keochkerian, D Choquet & S Ahmaidi

  2. Department of Nutritional and Physical Rehabilitation, Corbie's Hospital, Corbie, France

    C Mourlhon

  3. Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Corbie's Hospital, Corbie, Corbie, France

    D Choquet

Authors
  1. M Chlif
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  2. D Keochkerian
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  3. C Mourlhon
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Correspondence to S Ahmaidi.

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Chlif, M., Keochkerian, D., Mourlhon, C. et al. Noninvasive assessment of the tension–time index of inspiratory muscles at rest in obese male subjects. Int J Obes 29, 1478–1483 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803030

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