Effect of ventilatory muscle endurance training on running performance time of healthy young men

The effect of ventilatory muscle fatigue on running endurance time on a treadmill was investigated. Five healthy young college males participated in the study. All subjects underwent both a control period and a ventilatory muscle endurance training period. Each period lasted three weeks. Subjects were measured for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV), maximum breathing capacity (MBC), breathing endurance time, maximal oxygen uptake (max VO₂), pre- and post-performance test lactate, peak exercise ventilation and peak VO₂, and running endurance time on a treadmill. All measurements were recorded prior to a control period, after the control period, and after a three week ventilatory muscle endurance training program. Subjects underwent hyperpnea training (carbon dioxide rebreathing technique). The subjects ventilated at 85% of MBC for four different work bouts of varying duration (1-2 minutes, 3-5 minutes, 7-9 minutes, and 10-12 minutes). The subjects trained five days a week for three weeks. The one way ANOVA revealed that MBC, breathing endurance time, and running endurance time significantly changed during the study (p< .05). Further analysis revealed that running endurance time differed significantly between the pre- and post-control period rather than between the post-control and post-experimental periods. Based on these findings, it is concluded that ventilatory muscle fatigue does not limit running endurance time in fit young men.