Ventilatory responses and entrainment of breathing during rowing

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the hypothesis that respiration was coupled with the mechanics of the rowing stroke. In the first part of the study, physiologic responses during incremental exercise on the variable-resistance rowing ergometer were compared in 16 untrained female subjects (U), 17 collegiate female rowers (C), and 21 elite oarswomen (E). Minute ventilation (VE) and frequency of respiration (fR) were examined on a log scale as their relationship with oxygen consumption (VO2) was exponential. The slopes for log VE/VO2 were similar for collegiate (0.65 +/- 0.02) and elite (0.59 +/- 0.01) rowers, but the slope was significantly higher for the untrained (0.87 +/- 0.01) subjects (P less than 0.001). Elite rowers utilized a higher tidal volume (VT) response per VO2 (0.68 +/- 0.04 vs 0.30 +/- 0.05; P = 0.01) and lower log fR response per VO2 (0.27 +/- 0.02 vs 0.50 +/- 0.03; P = 0.01) compared with collegiate rowers. The ratio of fR/strokes per minute (SPM) averaged 1.5 in E athletes but varied in the U and C groups. In the second part of the study, pattern and timing of respiration were recording using an inspiratory pneumotachygraph, analyzed, and compared with specific phases of the rowing stroke in ten untrained subjects and nine elite rowers. The ratio of inspiratory time (T1)/total respiratory time (TTOT) decreased during the drive phase and increased during the recovery phase in both untrained subjects and elite rowers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)