The present application is directed to a detecting means for detecting or generatingmeasuring signals that are indicative of the respiration of a person, whereinsaid detecting means can be used advantageously in view of hygiene and standsout due to a simple and robust configuration. According to a first aspect, thisobject is achieved by a detecting means for detecting a signal that is indicativeof the activity of the respiratory muscles of a person to be examined, said meanscomprising a band means which, in the application position, is passed arounda torso region which widens and narrows when the person to be examined breathes,as well as a structure that is included in the band means and loaded in accordancewith the narrowing or widening of the torso region, wherein said structure isconfigured such that it causes a change in the volume of a measuring space meansdepending on a tensile force. It is thus advantageously possible to detect ormeasure the forces acting on the band means in a non-electric manner and, on thebasis of this detection or measurement, draw conclusions relating to the wideningor narrowing of the torso.