After completing this article, readers should be able to:
Tidal breathing refers to inhalation and exhalation during restful breathing. The range of tidal breathing is determined both by the depth of inspiration and by the end point of passive exhalation at functional residual capacity (FRC), the point at which the outward elastic recoil of the rib cage (RC) is balanced by the inward elastic recoil of the lungs (Fig. 1). Although tidal breathing often is maintained within a relatively narrow range in a quietly breathing person who does not have lung disease, lung disease not only can change the normal character of breathing, but it can create change within a series of breaths. Therefore, for patients who have respiratory disease, it would be helpful to identify these alterations and follow their change during therapy. The breathing pattern should be altered as little as possible during measurement. Before discussing the...
Comments