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Runners maintain locomotor–respiratory coupling following isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure

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Abstract

Introduction

Evidence has long suggested that mammalian ventilatory and locomotor rhythms are linked, yet determinants and implications of locomotor–respiratory coupling (LRC) continue to be investigated. Anecdotally, respiratory muscle fatigue seen at the end of heavy exercise may result in an uncoupling of movement–ventilation rhythms; however, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate this claim.

Purpose

We sought to determine whether or not fatigue of the respiratory muscles alters locomotor–respiratory coupling patterns typically observed in highly trained individuals while running. A related query was to examine the relationship between the potential changes in LRC and measures of running economy.

Method

Twelve male distance runners ran at four submaximal workloads (68–89 % \({\dot{V}}\)O2peak) on two separate days while LRC was quantified. One LRC trial served as a control (CON), while the other was performed following an isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure to induce respiratory muscle fatigue (FT+). LRC was assessed as stride-to-breathing frequency ratios (SF/fB) and degree of LRC (percentage of breaths occurring during the same decile of the step cycle).

Result

Hyperpnea resulted in significant declines in maximal voluntary inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) mouth pressures (ΔMIP = −10 ± 12 cm H2O; ΔMEP = −6 ± 9 cm H2O). There were no differences in minute ventilation between CON and FT+ (CON, all speeds pooled = 104 ± 25 L min−1; FT+ pooled = 106 ± 23 L min−1). Stride frequency was not different between trials; however, breathing frequency was significantly greater during FT+ compared to CON at all speeds (CON pooled = 47 ± 10 br min−1; FT+ pooled = 52 ± 9 br min−1), resulting in smaller corresponding SF/fB. Yet, the degree of LRC was the same during CON and FT+ (CON pooled = 63 ± 15 %; FT+ pooled = 64 ± 18 %).

Conclusion

The results indicate that trained runners are able to continue entraining breath and step cycles, despite marked changes in exercise breathing frequency, after a fatiguing hyperpnea challenge.

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Abbreviations

BTPS:

Body temperature and pressure, saturated

DYS:

Rating of perceived dyspnea

fB :

Breathing frequency

FECO2 :

Fraction of expired carbon dioxide

FEO2 :

Fraction of expired oxygen

FEV1 :

Forced expiratory volume in one second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

IVH:

Isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea

LRC:

Locomotor–respiratory coupling

MEP:

Maximal volitional expiratory mouth pressure

MIP:

Maximal volitional inspiratory mouth pressure

MVV:

Maximal voluntary ventilation

RE:

Running economy

RMF:

Respiratory muscle fatigue

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

RPM:

Revolutions per minute

SF:

Step frequency

STPD:

Standard temperature and pressure, dry

\({\dot{V}}\)CO2 :

Volume of expired carbon dioxide

\({\dot{V}}\)E:

Minute ventilation

\({\dot{V}}\)O2peak :

Maximal rate of oxygen consumption

V T :

Tidal volume

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Drs. Bruce Martin and David Koceja for their invaluable feedback on the project. This research was supported in part by an Indiana University School of Public Health Student Research Grant and a University Graduate School Grant-in-Aid of Doctoral Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratories, Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Abigail S. L. Stickford, Jonathon L. Stickford, David A. Tanner, Joel M. Stager & Robert F. Chapman

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  1. Abigail S. L. Stickford
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  2. Jonathon L. Stickford
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  3. David A. Tanner
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Correspondence to Abigail S. L. Stickford.

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Communicated by David C. Poole.

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Stickford, A.S.L., Stickford, J.L., Tanner, D.A. et al. Runners maintain locomotor–respiratory coupling following isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2395–2405 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3220-y

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