Table 4 Clinical applications

Investigate mechanisms

Investigate mechanisms of respiratory muscle activation

Research

For example:

Muscle activation during coughing

Respiratory muscle activity in health and disease

Respiratory muscle activation during inspiratory loading

[2, 73, 108,109,110,111,112,113,114,115]

Investigate mechanisms of breathlessness

Research

Breathlessness in COPD, during exercise

[72, 76, 116, 117]

Monitoring disease

Diagnostic/Monitor disease severity

ICU/RCU/ward/home

Monitor respiratory muscle activity in pre-school children with airway symptoms

[118, 119]

Predict change in clinical condition

ICU/RCU/ward/home

Monitor respiratory muscle activity to detect recovery and deterioration, need for intervention, post-discharge outcomes

[4, 77, 85]

Predict prognosis

Home

Predict long-term outcomes following AECOPD

[78]

Response to intervention

Titrate inspiratory muscle training

ICU/RCU/ward/home

Quantify respiratory muscle activation in response to different modalities and resistances

[53, 87, 120]

Response to other interventions

ICU/RCU/ward/home

For example:

Response intermittent hypoxia to improve motor plasticity in ALS

Response to an arithmetic task in asthmatic children

Response of upper airway muscles to non-invasive ventilation

[121,122,123]

To optimize mechanical ventilation

Titrate mechanical ventilation

ICU/RCU/ward/home

Quantification of inspiratory effort and contribution of the different respiratory muscles in order to define the optimal level of support

Detect patient-ventilator asynchrony

[3, 11, 49, 76, 81, 124]

Facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation

ICU/RCU

Monitor respiratory muscle activity to detect SBT failure

[6]