Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide
04:16

Inspiratory Muscle Training as an Adjunct to the Treatment of Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Practical Guide

Published on: January 30, 2026

Hyperventilation during exercise in very low birth weight school-age children may implicate inspiratory muscle

Aline Rideau Batista Novais1, Stephan Matecki, Audrey Jaussent

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, University Hospital of Montpellier, F-34000 France.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|November 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

School-age children born with very low birthweight (VLBW) exhibit reduced inspiratory muscle strength, leading to increased respiratory effort during exercise. This suggests VLBW children may benefit from exercise testing if they experience shortness of breath.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • Very low birthweight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) face potential long-term health challenges.
  • Understanding the impact of VLBW on respiratory function during childhood is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ventilatory response to exercise in school-aged children born with VLBW.
  • To compare exercise performance and respiratory muscle function between VLBW and full-term children.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 19 VLBW children and 20 matched full-term controls (aged 8-10 years).
  • Assessment of physical activity, body composition, spirometry, and maximal inspiratory pressure at rest.
  • Evaluation of gas exchange, breathing patterns, and inspiratory muscle effort (tension-time index) during incremental cycling exercise.

Main Results:

  • VLBW children demonstrated lower weight, height, lean body mass, and maximal inspiratory pressure compared to controls.
  • No significant difference in physical activity levels was observed between groups.
  • During exercise, VLBW children showed higher respiratory rates and minute ventilation relative to metabolic load (VCO(2)/kg), and increased inspiratory muscle effort relative to exercise intensity (%VO(2)max).

Conclusions:

  • Reduced inspiratory muscle strength in school-age VLBW children leads to heightened inspiratory effort during exercise.
  • The observed rapid, non-shallow breathing pattern in VLBW children may reflect an adaptation to lower inspiratory muscle fatigue resistance.
  • Exercise testing is recommended for VLBW children experiencing dyspnea to assess exercise limitations.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Wearable Devices to Identify Central Versus Peripheral Limitations During Exercise09:33

Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Wearable Devices to Identify Central Versus Peripheral Limitations During Exercise

Published on: December 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation01:25

Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation refers to a higher-than-normal rate and depth of breathing, often associated with anxiety attacks. This excessive breathing surpasses the body's need to expel CO2, leading to a condition known as hypocapnia - an unusually low level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Hypocapnia can constrict cerebral blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which may result in dizziness or fainting. Early signs include tingling and muscle spasms in the hands and face, caused by falling...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Alterations in Respiration II01:30

Alterations in Respiration II

There are numerous types of normal and abnormal respiration. Based on ventilatory movements, breathing patterns are classified as regular, deep, or shallow. Examples include Biot's breathing, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Kussmaul's breathing, hyperventilation, and hypoventilation. Each pattern is clinically significant and aids in evaluating patients.
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-II

Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection01:27

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection

Physical assessment of the respiratory tract through inspection is a crucial step in understanding the patient's respiratory health. It provides insights into the functioning of the respiratory system, the musculoskeletal structure, and even the patient's nutritional status. This comprehensive approach involves observing several vital aspects: chest configuration, breathing patterns, respiratory rates, skin color, and use of accessory muscles.
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...