EXERCISE EFFECT ON THE RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM

Exercise is the most influential Exercise is the most influential physiological stress on breathingphysiological stress on breathing

Exercise increases the Exercise increases the breaths/minutebreaths/minute

Exercise increases the Exercise increases the amount of air in each amount of air in each breath (tidal volume)breath (tidal volume)

How is increased ventilation accomplished?

During light exercise During light exercise

Ventilation increases linearly Ventilation increases linearly with oxygen uptake and carbon with oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide productiondioxide production

This increase in ventilation is This increase in ventilation is accomplished more by accomplished more by increased increased tidal volume tidal volume (breathing deeper in and out)(breathing deeper in and out)

During higher exercise levels During higher exercise levels Ventilation is increased Ventilation is increased

more by more by increased increased breathing frequencybreathing frequency

This will keep the blood This will keep the blood saturated with oxygen saturated with oxygen because the blood is in because the blood is in the alveoli capillaries the alveoli capillaries long enough for long enough for complete diffusion of complete diffusion of gasesgases

Steady rate (moderate) exercise Steady rate (moderate) exercise sufficient oxygen is supplied to muscles sufficient oxygen is supplied to muscles due to increased oxygen up take, there is little, or no, build up of due to increased oxygen up take, there is little, or no, build up of

lactic acid in the muscles lactic acid in the muscles some lactate will be produced and removed by the blood stream some lactate will be produced and removed by the blood stream lactic acid is neutralized in the blood (this reaction produces lactic acid is neutralized in the blood (this reaction produces

carbon dioxide as a by-product)carbon dioxide as a by-product) increased carbon dioxide in the blood will stimulate increased increased carbon dioxide in the blood will stimulate increased

ventilationventilation Increased ventilation is accomplished by Increased ventilation is accomplished by both increased tidal both increased tidal

volume and frequencyvolume and frequency

How does pulmonary ventilation (breathing) increase during exercise?

1. During light exercise (walking)?By increasing the tidal volume (breathing deeper)

2. During intense exercise (sprinting)?By increasing the frequency of breathing

3. During steady state exercise (jogging)?By increasing both the tidal volume and the

frequency of breathing

It is the It is the oxygen up take oxygen up take of the of the muscles that does not keep up with muscles that does not keep up with the oxygen demand (of muscles) the oxygen demand (of muscles) during strenuous exercises – during strenuous exercises – pulmonary ventilation is usually pulmonary ventilation is usually adequate adequate – usually more than – usually more than adequate.adequate.

IMPORTANT!!

The Energy Cost of The Energy Cost of BreathingBreathing

At rest and with light exercise At rest and with light exercise

the energy cost of breathing is minimal the energy cost of breathing is minimal (4% of energy) (4% of energy)

During intense exercise During intense exercise

the energy use may the energy use may increase from 10-increase from 10-20% of total energy 20% of total energy expenditure expenditure

In a person with respiratory disease In a person with respiratory disease

the work of the work of breathing itself breathing itself during exercise during exercise may be may be exhausting exhausting

The Effects of Cigarette The Effects of Cigarette SmokingSmoking

Cigarette smoking has little long Cigarette smoking has little long term effect on athletes term effect on athletes in the in the initial yearsinitial years

Cigarettes have Cigarettes have an immediate an immediate effecteffect of airway resistance of airway resistance (as (as much as 3 times) that lasts much as 3 times) that lasts about 35 minutes after only 15 about 35 minutes after only 15 puffs puffs

This could be significant in This could be significant in vigorous exercisevigorous exercise

Ventilation Adaptations Ventilation Adaptations with Trainingwith Training

Minimal exercise Minimal exercise ventilation during exercise improves with ventilation during exercise improves with

training (due to increased alveolar ventilation training (due to increased alveolar ventilation and increased tissue oxygen uptake) and increased tissue oxygen uptake)

Sub-maximal exercise Sub-maximal exercise The percentage of energy used in breathing is The percentage of energy used in breathing is

reduced after training only 4 weeksreduced after training only 4 weeks Tidal volume increasesTidal volume increases Breathing frequency is reducedBreathing frequency is reduced This results in increased amounts of oxygen This results in increased amounts of oxygen

extracted from inspired airextracted from inspired airUntrained expired air contains 18% oxygenUntrained expired air contains 18% oxygenTrained expired air contains 14-15% oxygenTrained expired air contains 14-15% oxygen

This is important This is important becausebecause

It reduces the fatiguing of the It reduces the fatiguing of the ventilation musculatureventilation musculatureThe freed up oxygen (not used by The freed up oxygen (not used by the respiratory muscles) can be the respiratory muscles) can be available for the exercising muscleavailable for the exercising muscle

Specificity of Ventilation ResponseSpecificity of Ventilation Response The improvements in the ventilation were The improvements in the ventilation were

evident only when the athletes performed the evident only when the athletes performed the specific exercises that they were trained inspecific exercises that they were trained in

New exercises did not show any improved New exercises did not show any improved ventilationventilation

Why?Why?It may be, the ventilation adjustments were It may be, the ventilation adjustments were

signaled by neural and chemical changes in signaled by neural and chemical changes in the trained musclesthe trained muscles

What is Blood Doping?

Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance.

Because RBC’s carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, more RBC’s in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and endurance.