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Enhanced ventilatory and exercise performance in athletes with slight expiratory resistive loading
L L Fee1, R M Smith, M B English
1Physiology Department, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Slight expiratory resistive loading (ERL) in highly fit athletes increased end-expiratory lung volume, enhancing oxygen uptake and peak power output by reducing exercise limitations.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Expiratory resistive loading (ERL) is used to study respiratory muscle function.
- The effects of slight ERL on cardiorespiratory responses and exercise capacity in highly fit athletes are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the cardiorespiratory and performance effects of slight ERL in highly fit athletes.
- To investigate if slight ERL can enhance exercise capacity by altering lung volumes and physiological responses.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight highly fit athletes performed cycle ergometer tests with and without slight ERL (1.5-3.0 cmH2O).
- Peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and maximal power output (POmax) were measured.
- End-expiratory lung volume was assessed in a subset of subjects during submaximal exercise.
Main Results:
- Slight ERL increased end-expiratory lung volume, peak expiratory pressure, minute ventilation, and O2 pulse across exercise intensities.
- Oxygen uptake was significantly greater at 90% POmax with ERL.
- Athletes achieved higher VO2 peak and POmax with slight ERL compared to control conditions.
Conclusions:
- Elevated end-expiratory lung volume induced by slight ERL can attenuate airflow and blood flow limitations during strenuous exercise.
- Slight ERL enhances exercise capacity and performance in highly fit athletes.