[Fatigue of the respiratory muscles due to maximal exercise on 2 different ergometers]

This study examines relationships between physical exercise and fatigue of ventilatory muscles according to training, intensity of exercise, and the ergometer. Twenty-two athletes were submitted to maximal triangular exercise on treadmill (TR) and bicycle (BE). Maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory pressures and a spirometry were measured before and after exercise. In the "high level physical capacity" group (GR1) and "medium level physical capacity" group (GR2), PImax (128.4 +/- 36.8 cmH2O) and PEmax (175.7 +/- 63.8 cmH2O) after exercise on TR decreased significantly (140.0 +/- 32.6, p < .05; at rest: 196.8 +/- 59.8 cmH2O, p < .01). After exercise on BE, PImax and PEmax in GR1 and GR2 were significantly smaller than at rest (p < .001). In GR1, forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly decreased after exercise on TR (5.22 +/- 0.8 vs. 4.99 +/- 0.6 l; p < .05).