Characteristics of Speech Breathing in Young Women

1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 466-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan M. Hodge ◽  
Anne Putnam Rochet

Chest wall kinematic records were obtained from 10 healthy young women in the upright, seated position during resting breathing, conversation, and reading aloud. Breathing frequency, lung volume levels relative to resting end-expiratory level, and relative volume displacements of the rib cage and abdomen were measured. Compared to conversation, group results for reading revealed three differences: an increase in syllables spoken per breath, an absence of filled pauses, and a slight upward shift in end-inspiratory and end-expiratory lung volume levels. Compared to resting breathing, group results for speech revealed four differences: a background chest wall configuration characterized by a relatively larger rib cage and smaller abdomen, slight increases in breathing frequency and in lung volume expenditure, and a slight decrease in rib cage contribution to lung volume displacement. The physical characteristic most strongly associated with rib cage contribution to lung volume displacement in resting breathing was height (r = .76). In comparing the relationship between the same respiratory behavior during resting breathing and speech, a correlation of .83 was obtained for rib cage contribution to volume displacement in the two conditions and of .60 for end-inspiratory volume level in the two conditions. Somewhat weaker positive correlations were obtained for lung volume expenditure and for breathing frequency in the two conditions. Comparison of the present findings for women to those recently reported for comparable men (Holt & Hixon, 1987) revealed no remarkable differences in speech breathing characteristics. Results suggest that certain physical characteristics and task variables may have greater functional importance than gender in determining normative speech breathing behaviors.

1986 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannette D. Hoit ◽  
Thomas J. Hixon

Diameter changes of the rib cage and abdomen were recorded during tidal breathing and speech production in 12 adult male subjects grouped on the basis of prominence on three body type components: relative fatness, relative musculoskeletal development, and relative linearity. Data were charted to solve for lung volume, volume displacements of the rib cage and abdomen, and muscular mechanism. Tidal breathing differed across subject groups with regard to depth, rate, and chest wall configuration. Subjects rated high in relative fatness breathed deeper, slower, and with a greater chest wall deformation from relaxation than did other subjects: Speech breathing differed across subject groups with regard to relative volume contributions of the rib cage and abdomen, abdomeren excursions, rib cage paradoxing, and chest wall configuration. Subjects rated high in relative fatness demonstrated substantial abdomen contributions to lung volume change, large abdomen excursions, frequent rib cage paradoxing, and marked chest wall deformations from relaxation. By contrast, subjects rated high in relative linearity demonstrated large rib cage contributions to lung volume change; small abdomen excursions, and slight chest wall deformations from relaxation. Subjects rated high in relative musculoskeletal development generally represented a mixture of characteristics of the other two subject groups in their speech breathing performance. Functional differences are discussed in relation to possible underlying mechanism and inferences are drawn concerning evaluation and management of individuals with speech breathing disorders.


1973 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Hixon ◽  
Michael D. Goldman ◽  
Jere Mead

The chest wall has been treated as a two-part kinematic system comprised of the rib cage and diaphragm-abdomen in parallel, and wherein the volume displaced by each part is linearly related to the motions of points within it. Using measurements of changes in anteroposterior diameters of the rib cage and abdomen, we studied subjects in upright and supine postures during several respiratory maneuvers and utterance tasks. Results are charted in relative motion diagrams (rib cage vs abdomen), which include the relaxed configuration of the chest wall and departures therefrom during utterances. For conversation, reading, and singing, lung volume events were restricted to the midvolume range and were dependent upon body posture and utterance loudness. Relative volume contributions of the two parts differed for subjects and utterances and ranged from all rib cage displacement to all abdominal displacement. During utterances, the chest wall was distorted from its relaxed configuration, and differently so in the two postures studied. Potential mechanisms responsible for these distortions are discussed. We conclude that the distortions observed constitute a “volume platform” or posturing of the chest wall, off of which the speaker produces speech but does not significantly further distort the system in providing the changes in driving pressure required for typical utterances.


1986 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 928-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Smith ◽  
J. Mead

A three degree of freedom description of movement of the human chest wall is presented. In addition to the standard variables representing surface displacements of the rib cage and abdominal wall in transverse planes, the description includes a variable representing axial displacements of the chest wall associated with postural movements of the spine and pelvis. A simple technique was developed for quantifying the axial displacements using a single measurement by magnetometry of changes in the distance between a point on the anterior surface of the rib cage near the xiphisternum and a point on the abdominal surface near the pubic symphysis. It was found that axial displacements produced by either flexion-extension of the spine or rotation of the pelvis in the standing postures can be treated as a single degree of freedom. The chest wall displacements induced over the range of axial displacement examined were as large as those normally accompanying a change in lung volume on the order of 30–50% of the vital capacity. It is concluded, however, that although this additional degree of freedom can cause large chest wall displacements, it probably cannot independently change lung volume. This implies that the system is constrained so that there are only a limited number of independent modes of chest wall movement that are capable of producing significant changes in lung volume. It also suggests that the system is constructed so that lung volume can be relatively independent of certain postural distortions of the chest wall.


1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 2242-2252 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Venegas ◽  
K. Tsuzaki ◽  
B. J. Fox ◽  
B. A. Simon ◽  
C. A. Hales

Apparently conflicting differences between the regional chest wall motion and gas transport have been observed during high-frequency ventilation (HFV). To elucidate the mechanism responsible for such differences, a positron imaging technique capable of assessing dynamic chest wall volumetric expansion, regional lung volume, and regional gas transport was developed. Anesthetized supine dogs were studied at ventilatory frequencies (f) ranging from 1 to 15 Hz and eucapnic tidal volumes. The regional distribution of mean lung volume was found to be independent of f, but the apex-to-base ratio of regional chest wall expansion favored the lung bases at low f and became more homogeneous at higher f. Regional gas transport per unit of lung volume, assessed from washout maneuvers, was homogeneous at 1 Hz, favored the bases progressively as f increased to 9 Hz, and returned to homogeneity at 15 Hz. Interregional asynchrony (pendelluft) and right-to-left differences were small at this large regional scale. Analysis of the data at a higher spatial resolution showed that the motion of the diaphragm relative to the excursions of the rib cage decreased as f increased. These differences from apex to base in regional chest wall expansion and gas transport were consistent with a simple model including lung, rib cage, and diaphragm regional impedances and a viscous coupling between lungs and chest wall caused by the relative sliding between pleural surfaces. To further test this model, we studied five additional animals under open chest conditions. These studies resulted in a homogeneous and f-independent regional gas transport. We conclude that the apex-to-base distribution of gas transport observed during HFV is not caused by intrinsic lung heterogeneity but rather is a result of chest wall expansion dynamics and its coupling to the lung.


2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 680-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey R. Tomczak ◽  
Krista R. Greidanus ◽  
Carol A. Boliek

Chest wall muscle recruitment varies as a function of the breathing task performed. However, the cortical control of the chest wall muscles during different breathing tasks is not known. We studied chest wall intermuscular coherence during various task-related lung volume excursions in 10 healthy adults (34 ± 15 yr; 2 men, 8 women) and determined if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could modulate chest wall intermuscular coherence during these tasks. Simultaneous assessment of regional intercostal and oblique electromyographic activity was measured while participants performed standardized tidal breathing, speech, maximum phonation, and vital capacity tasks. Lung volume and chest wall kinematics were determined using variable inductance plethysmography. We found that chest wall area of intermuscular coherence was greater during tidal and speech breathing compared with phonation and vital capacity (all P < 0.05) and between tidal breathing compared with speech breathing ( P < 0.05). Anodal tDCS increased chest wall area of intermuscular coherence from 0.04 ± 0.09 prestimulation to 0.18 ± 0.19 poststimulation for vital capacity ( P < 0.05). Sham tDCS and cathodal tDCS had no effect on coherence during lung volume excursions. Chest wall kinematics were not affected by tDCS. Our findings indicate that lung volume excursions about the midrange of vital capacity elicit a greater area of chest wall intermuscular coherence compared with lung volume excursions spanning the entire range of vital capacity in healthy adults. Our findings also demonstrate that brief tDCS may modulate the cortical control of the chest wall muscles in a stimulation- and lung volume excursion task-dependent manner but does not affect chest wall kinematics in healthy adults.


2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn P. Connaghan ◽  
Christopher A. Moore ◽  
Masahiko Higashakawa

The development of respiratory drive for vocalization was studied by observing chest wall kinematics longitudinally in 4 typically developing children from the age of 9 to 48 months. Measurements of the relative contribution of rib cage and abdominal movement during vocalization (i.e., babbling and true words) and rest breathing were obtained every 3 months using respiratory plethysmography (Respitrace TM ). Extending earlier findings in 15-month-olds, 2 methods of analysis of rib cage and abdominal movement were used: (a) a dynamic index of the strength of coupling between the rib cage and abdomen, and (b) a classification scheme describing the moment-by-moment changes in each of the 2 components (C. A. Moore, T. J. Caulfield, & J. R. Green, 2001). The developmental course of relative chest wall kinematics differed between vocalization and rest breathing. The coupling of rib cage and abdomen during vocalization weakened significantly with development, whereas it remained consistently strong for rest breathing throughout the observed period. The developmental changes in frequency of occurrence of relative moment-by-moment changes varied across movement type. The results support previous findings that speech breathing is distinct from rest breathing based on the relative contributions of the rib cage and abdomen. Longitudinal changes are likely responsive to anatomic development, including changes to rib cage shape and compliance.


1983 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1216-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Stubbing ◽  
E. H. Ramsdale ◽  
K. J. Killian ◽  
E. J. Campbell

The perceived magnitude of static inspiratory muscle pressure was studied in normal subjects using psychophysical techniques. The sensory magnitude of a range of inspiratory pressures increased as the magnitude of the pressure increased. When the duration of the inspiratory pressure was controlled, the sensory magnitude also increased as duration increased. The relationship can be described by a single psychophysical function, psi = k x P1.234 x t0.62, where psi is perceived magnitude, P is inspiratory pressure, t is duration, and k is a constant. Use of different muscle groups and changes in lung volume altered the perceived magnitude of static inspiratory pressures. When static inspiratory pressures were generated by the abdomen-diaphragm, the perceived magnitude was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than when they were generated by the rib cage. When lung volume was increased, the perceived magnitude of pressure was reduced. The results show that the perceived magnitude of static inspiratory pressures is affected by the pressure itself, pressure duration, the muscles used, and the lung volume at which the pressure is generated.


1978 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 829-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Grassino ◽  
M. D. Goldman ◽  
J. Mead ◽  
T. A. Sears

We related diaphragm electromyographic activity (Edi) to transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) in man during graded inspiratory efforts. Estimates of rib cage and abdominal volume displacements were based on their anteroposterior (AP) diameter changes. The diaphragm was assumed to contract isometrically when subjects performed inspiratory efforts against a closed airway at specified abdominothoracic configurations, increasing Edi and Pdi while holding lung volume and rib case and abdominal AP diameters constant. The relationship between Pdi and Edi depends primarily on abdominothoracic configuration rather than lung volume. For equal increments in lung volume, the Pdi developed at constant Edi is four to eight times more sensitive to changes in abdominal than in rib cage AP diameter. We demonstrate an isofunctional state of the diaphragm at different lung volumes, when increases in lung volume and rib cage AP diameter are compensated for by slight decreases in abdominal AP diameter, resulting in a constant relationship between Edi and Pdi. We conclude that diaphragm shortening is reflected more directly in abdominal displacement than in lung volume change.


1965 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1187-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Agostoni ◽  
Piero Mognoni ◽  
Giorgio Torri ◽  
Ada Ferrario Agostoni

The static relation between lung volume and rib cage circumference has been determined over the vital capacity range, during relaxation and activity of the respiratory muscles with open airway. At small volume the circumference is larger during relaxation; the reverse occurs at large volume. During relaxation at full expiration the cross section of the rib cage becomes more elliptical and in some subjects also greater. Hence the shape of the chest wall during muscular activity is different from that during relaxation. Because of this change of chest wall shape the outward recoil of the passive rib cage at full expiration, in the seven subjects examined, is higher than that given by the conventional volume-pressure curve during relaxation. The volume displacements of the rib cage and of the abdomen-diaphragm have been calculated and the volume-pressure curves of the passive rib cage and abdomen-diaphragm have been constructed, taking into account the changes of the chest wall shape occurring during relaxation. change of chest wall shape during relaxation; relation between lung volume and rib cage circumference during relaxation; relation between pleural pressure and rib cage circumference during relaxation; recoil of the passive rib cage; pressure exerted by the expiratory muscles at full expiration; volume-pressure curve of the passive rib cage; volume-pressure curve of the passive abdomen-diaphragm Submitted on September 14, 1964


1996 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 1772-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Spahija ◽  
A. Grassino

To examine the effect of pursed-lips breathing (PLB) on breathing pattern and respiratory mechanics, we studied 11 healthy subjects breathing with and without PLB at rest and during steady-state bicycle exercise. Six of these subjects took part in a second study, which compared the effects of PLB to expiratory resistive loading (ERL). PLB was found to prolong expiratory and total breath durations and to promote a slower and deeper breathing pattern. During exercise, the compensatory increase that occurred in tidal volume was not sufficient to counter the reduction in breathing frequency, causing minute ventilation to be reduced. Although ERL similarly caused minute ventilation and breathing frequency to be decreased, unlike PLB, it produced no change in tidal volume and prolonged expiratory and total breath durations to a lesser extent. PLB and ERL increased the expiratory resistance to a comparable degree, also increasing the expiratory resistive work of breathing and promoting greater expiratory rib cage and abdominal muscle recruitment in response to the expiratory loads. End-expiratory lung volume, which was determined from inspiratory capacity maneuvers, was not altered by PLB; however, with ERL it was increased by 0.20 and 0.24 liter during rest and exercise, respectively. Inspiratory muscle recruitment patterns were not altered by PLB at rest, although small increases in the relative contribution of the rib cage/accessory muscles in conjunction with abdominal muscle relaxation occurred during exercise. Similar trends were observed with ERL. We conclude that, although ERL and PLB induce comparable respiratory muscle recruitment responses, they are not equivalent with respect to breathing pattern changes and effect on end-expiratory lung volume.


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