Residual Lung Volume and Ventilatory Muscle Strength Changes Following Maximal and Submaximal Exercise

Abstract

In order to evaluate a mechanism which may be responsible for the often observed acute increase in residual lung volume (RV) following exercise, 12 non-smoking males (20-30 yrs) performed two bouts of exercise on separate days; one to maximal heart rate (HRmax) and one to 85% of HRmax for 20min. Prior to exercise and at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min post-exercise, the following parameters were measured: RV, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV_1.0), forced expiratory flow (FEF_75-85), maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), and maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax). Significant (p < 0.05) increases occurred in RV at 5, 15 and 30 min following maximal exercise and at 5 and 30 min after submaximal exercise. Changes in RV between the two exercise bouts were generally greater (p < 0.05) for maximal exercise. Accompanying the increases in RV were significant (p < 0.05) decreases in PEmax and decreases in FVC, while FEV_1.0 and FEF_75-85 remained generally unchanged or were slightly elevated. The data suggest that decreases in expiratory muscle strength due to fatigue may in part be responsible for increases in RV.

Residual lung volume - maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures - forced vital capacity - exercise