Relationship Between Respiratory Muscle Strenght, Peripheral Muscle Blood Flow and Gait Speed in the Elderly

The hypothesis of this study is that elderly with inspiratory muscle weakness will present lower peripheral blood flow and consequently lower walking speed. The main aim of the study is to verify if the peripheral muscular blood flow in the elderly is different between patients with and without decrease in inspiratory muscle strength. As secondary objectives, it will be evaluated the correlation between inspiratory muscle strength and gait speed and quality of life, as well as gait speed and peripheral muscle blood flow. Fifty elderly patients of both sexes, over 65 years, from Vila Mariana Einstein Outpatient Clinic and Cora Residencial Senior, will be included to evaluate Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (Pimáx), Maximum Expiratory Pressure (Pemáx), Spirometry (FVC, PF, FEV1), 4.6m Walk Test, Quality of life for the elderly (WHOQOL old), Mini Mental Test, Body Mass Index (BMI) and peripheral muscle blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography.