Little knowledge is known about the ability of the RMMI to measure breathing patterns and the correlation between RMs and breathing volumes.


 One aim was to investigate whether the RMMI could discriminate between normal versus abdominal versus high costal breathing patterns in different body positions.  The RMMI was used to study the above-mentioned breathing patterns in supine, sitting and standing positions.  The RMMI was able to discriminate between different breathing patterns in different body positions (P<0·001).  A strong correlation was observed between RMs as measured by the RMMI and different breathing volumes in all three body positions (Spearman's rho 0·86-1·00).


 The RMMI can be used to measure and analyse different breathing patterns in different body positions, and the correlation between measured RMs and breathing volumes is strong.
THERM