If a manometer isn’t available, you can still identify signs of respiratory muscle weakness (RMW) and begin training safely.

Clinicians can often recognize RMW by observing a patient’s condition — for example, individuals with sarcopenia, frailty, or increased respiratory effort are very likely to have some degree of respiratory muscle dysfunction. These patients may struggle to complete simple tasks without becoming fatigued, which is a clear indicator of respiratory muscle weakness.

Because respiratory muscle training is a safe, low-risk intervention, you don’t need to wait for manometry results to begin treatment. You can start training and assess progress over time — adding formal measurements later if needed.