Measuring Respiratory Muscle Strength

Neuromuscular diseases, such as muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis, can weaken the muscles you need to help you breathe.

If your doctor wants to evaluate the strength of your respiratory muscles, you will come to the lab to get an assessment of your maximal respiratory pressures. The test measures the force generated by the diaphragm and chest muscles when you forcefully breathe in and out.

The lab sometimes also refers to this test as maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure measurements.

The evaluation takes about 15 minutes.

Pulmonary Function Laboratory
Christiana Hospital, Room 1571 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road Newark, DE 19718 directions 302-733-1559 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday	Wilmington Hospital, Room 1156 501 W. 14th St. Wilmington, DE 19801 directions 302-428-2259 7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday