Abstract
Introduction
Despite VO2peak being, generally, greater while running compared to cycling, ventilation (V E) during maximal exercise is less while running compared to cycling. Differences in operating lung volumes (OLV) between maximal running and cycling could be one explanation for previously observed differences in V E and this could be due to differences in body position e.g., trunk/hip angle during exercise.
Purpose
We asked whether OLV differed between maximal running and cycling and if this difference was due to trunk/hip angle during exercise.
Methods
Eighteen men performed three graded maximal exercise tests; one while running, one while cycling in the drop position (i.e., extreme hip flexion), and one while cycling upright (i.e., seated with thorax upright). Resting flow-volume characteristics were measured in each body position to be used during exercise. Tidal flow-volume loops were measured throughout the exercise.
Results
V E during maximal running (148.8 ± 18.9 L min−1) tended to be lower than during cycling in the drop position (158.5 ± 24.7 L min−1; p = 0.07) and in the upright position (158.5 ± 23.7 L min−1; p = 0.06). End-inspiratory and end-expiratory lung volumes (EILV, EELV) were significantly larger during drop cycling compared to running (87.1 ± 4.1 and 35.8 ± 6.2 vs. 83.9 ± 6.0 and 33.0 ± 5.7 % FVC), but only EILV was larger during upright cycling compared to running (88.2 ± 3.5 % FVC). OLV and V E did not differ between cycling positions.
Conclusion
Since OLV are altered by exercise mode, but cycling position did not have a significant impact on OLV, we conclude that trunk/hip angle is likely not the primary factor determining OLV during maximal exercise.
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Abbreviations
- EELV:
-
End-expiratory lung volumes
- EILV:
-
End-inspiratory lung volumes
- fb:
-
Frequency of breathing
- FEO2 :
-
Fraction of expired O2
- FECO2− :
-
Fraction of expired CO2
- FEV1 :
-
Forced expired volume in 1 s
- FEV1/FVC:
-
Forced expired volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity ratio
- FVC:
-
Forced vital capacity
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- IC:
-
Inspiratory capacity
- MEF50 :
-
Maximal expiratory flow at 50 % of forced vital capacity
- OLV:
-
Operating lung volumes
- PEF:
-
Peak expired flow rate
- rpm:
-
Revolutions per minute
- RER:
-
Respiratory exchange ratio
- Ti/T Total :
-
Inspiratory duty cycle as a percentage of total breathing cycle time
- TLC:
-
Total lung capacity
- T Total :
-
Total breathing cycle time
- V E :
-
Minute ventilation
- V E/VO2 :
-
Ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (O2)
- V E/VCO2 :
-
Ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (CO2)
- VO2peak :
-
Peak oxygen consumption
- V T :
-
Tidal volume
- W:
-
Watts
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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.
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Duke, J.W., Stickford, J.L., Weavil, J.C. et al. Operating lung volumes are affected by exercise mode but not trunk and hip angle during maximal exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 2387–2397 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2956-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2956-0