MIP (maximum inspiratory pressure) can easily be measured with a small hand held device. One breathes in as deeply as possible creating negative pressure against the closed valve. That is directly measured in cm H2O.

MEP (maximum expiratory pressure) can easily be measured with a small hand held device. One blows as forcefully as possible creating positive pressure against the closed valve. That is directly measured in cm H2O.

Normally the MIP is over -60 and the MEP is over 100.

Full pulmonary function testing is also very helpful in determining how the lungs are working and how one is responding to the disease over time or to treatments that are tried. Please see the Pulmonary Function Section.

A normal baby spends much of their time eating and sleeping. As they grow they develop new skills and they spend many waking hours trying to learn how to control their body. They try to roll over, to push up off the ground, to sit up, to stand and finally to walk and run and climb. Milestones are the normal developmental tasks that children pass and thus ages are affixed to mastering these skills. Most babies work on their large muscle group skills first and then gradually gain control of the smaller and finer muscle movements.

It is important that your baby be seen regularly by a health care professional (a pediatrician is ideal, or a family doctor, general doctor or nurse practitioner). This person can examine your baby often and be sure your baby is reaching normal milestones on time. If milestones are delayed they can suggest ways to help your child learn the skills and if improvement is not seen they can refer you to special doctors who can determine why your baby is having trouble. Some children never reach certain milestones, others learn normally in their lives and then loose skills over time. It is important for you to get help if your baby is not meeting milestones and especially if your baby is losing skills they had gained.

Lift chest off ground – 6 weeks
Roll over 4-6 months
Sit up 5-8 months
Pull to stand 8-10 months
Walk 9-17 months
Run 12-18 months
Notice that a range of ages are typical. Not every baby learns these skills as the same rate.

Weak chest muscles and poor brain function can lead to repeated pneumonias and chest infections. If cough is abnormal secretions are retained and stuck in the lung and can get infected. If swallowing is abnormal, choking and aspiration (small amounts of food or liquids getting into the windpipes and the lung) can occur.

Assist your child’s airway clearance. Please see the section on Airway Clearence Techniques. Concentrate on helping your child to cough and make the cough more functional with manual cough assist, drainage positions, chest physical therapy or machines that help to shake secretions from smaller airways into bigger airways like the VEST devices.

Keep your child at a normal healthy body weight. Weak chest muscles are further taxed if they have heavy layers of fat to move. Added fat is also a stress on the heart and generally means more work for internal and external body functions.