Effect of local vibration on ventilatory response to hypercapnia in normal subjects

We studied the effects of local high frequency mechanical vibration on ventilatory (VE) and occlusion pressure (P0.1) responses to CO2 rebreathing in twelve normal subjects. Three kinds of vibration procedures were employed: a) sustained vibration over the tendon of the quadriceps femoris near the knee, b) sustained vibration of the right 2nd or 3rd parasternal intercostal spaces and c) 'in-phase' chest wall vibration applied during inspiration on the right 2nd or 3rd parasternal intercostal spaces and during expiration on the right 9th or 10th intercostal spaces anterior to the midaxillary line. The slopes of VE response to hypercapnia (delta VE/delta PETCO2) were 2.05 +/- 0.26 (mean +/- SE), 2.48 +/- 0.24, 2.82 +/- 0.32 and 3.35 +/- 0.38 l.min-1/mmHg in the control state, during tendon vibration of quadriceps femoris, sustained chest wall vibration and 'in-phase' chest wall vibration, respectively. This sequential increase in slopes was significant compared to the control values. The effect of vibration on the P0.1 response to hypercapnia was similar to that of VE. We conclude that local mechanical vibration facilitates responsiveness to hypercapnia.