OBJECTIVE:To compare the values of maximal inspiratory pressures (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressures (MEP) between students from public and private schools. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study of 144 children from public and private schools. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured with an MVD300 (Globalmed®). Student's t-test was applied to compare average pressures and chi-square test was used to compare the frequency of children who performed or not physical activity. RESULTS: Students from private and public schools showed a mean MIP of 77.0±21.5 and 65.7±18.7cmH2O (p=0.002) and MEP of 90.1±22.5 and 79.4±19.0cmH2O (p=0.005), respectively. Boys from private and public schools showed a mean MIP of 85.0±20.8 and 74.4±17.1cmH2O (p=0.051) and MEP of 98.5±22.5 and 89.2±16.3cmH2O (p=0.103), respectively. Girls from private and public schools showed a mean MIP of 70.0±19.8 and 60.2±17.8cmH2O (p=0.027) and MEP of 82.6±20.0 and 73.2±18.1cmH2O (p=0.035), respectively. Approximately 40% of public school students performed physical activity, in private schools, this percentage was 95%. Children who performed or not physical activity showed a mean MIP of 76.0±20.7 and 63.2±20.0cmH2O (p=0.002) and MEP of 89.0±21.6 and 77.4±20.5cmH2O (p=0.006), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory muscle strength of students from private schools was significantly higher than that of students from public schools, especially among girls, and possibly related to the practice of physical activity, more frequent in private schools.
schools; motor activity; muscle strength
