Breathing patterns during progressive incremental cycle and treadmill exercise are different

Abstract

Perceived breathlessness at comparable minute ventilation (VE) is higher with cycling than with running. Different use of the upper extremities and chest wall may influence the breathing pattern. It was hypothetized that the relationship between tidal volume (VT) and VE throughout progressive incremental exercise is different with the two modes of exercise. Twelve well trained subjects (seven men) 20-25years had incremental maximal exercise tests on a treadmill and a cycle ergometer on different days in random order. Heart rate, respiratory gases, VE and VT were measured on a computerized exercise testing system, and data were averaged over 20s periods. The VE - VT relationship was characterized by maximum VT, VT at a VE of 30 l min-1 (VT30), the Hey plot and by a least squares quadratic regression model. The increase in VT by VE was steeper and VT30 was higher with cycling compared to running. VTmaxwas not different, but was achieved at a lower VE with cycling. Breathing strategies are different with running and cycling in young well trained subjects, and exercise mode must be accounted for in normative studies of breathing pattern. © Journal compilation © 2009 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine.