Characteristics of the respiratory mechanical and muscle function of competitive breath-hold divers

Tetzlaff, Kay; Scholz, Tobias; Walterspacher, Stephan; Muth, Claus M.; Metzger, Jule; Röecker, Kai; Sorichter, Stephan

doi:10.1007/s00421-008-0731-9

Cited by 25 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In contrast to our results, many researchers have observed a decline in FEV 1 [9,[10][11][12] and FVC in divers [8,9,11,12]. Of these studies, only Tetzllaf et al [3] evaluated pulmonary function in free divers who, because they had competitive goals, dived to depths greater than the subjects in the present study. The other studies evaluated commercial scuba divers breathing a mixture of gases under hyperbaric conditions, a situation quite different from breath-hold diving.…”

Section: Lung Function In Breath-hold Diving Fishermen O R I G I N a contrasting

confidence: 97%

“…Tetzllaf et al [3] found no effect of diving on MIP in their assessment of mechanical characteristics and respiratory function when comparing competitive free divers, scuba divers and controls.…”

Section: Lung Function In Breath-hold Diving Fishermen O R I G I N a mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Changes in lung volumes have been described showing increased TLC (total lung capacity) and FVC (forced vital capacity) and anomalies in the pattern of expiratory airflow with reduced FEV 1 (forced expiratory volume in one second), as well as the FEV 1 /FVC ratio [3,[8][9][10][11][12]. Reduction in expiratory flows, seen in divers, suggests the occurrence of disorders in small airways, supporting the assumption of the development of an obstructive disease [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…In general, studies suggest that there is no diving effect on maximal respiratory of divers [3]. Tetzllaf et al [3] found no effect of diving on MIP in their assessment of mechanical characteristics and respiratory function when comparing competitive free divers, scuba divers and controls.…”

Section: Lung Function In Breath-hold Diving Fishermen O R I G I N a mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Unlike some birds and mammals, such divers are usually capable of holding their breath only for a few minutes, since they are not adapted to a prolonged aquatic existence with high hydrostatic pressure and oxygen deprivation [3]. Thus, several physiological adaptations resulting from these conditions can be observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Chronic adaptations of lung function in breath-hold diving fishermen

Diniz¹,

Farias²,

Pereira³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify and analyze the existence of chronic adaptations of lung function in freediving fishermen whose occupation is artisanal fishing. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 11 breath-hold diving fishermen and 10 non-breath-hold diving fishermen (control) from the village of Bitupitá in the municipality of Barroquinha (Ceará -Brazil). Anthropometric measurements, chest and abdominal circumferences as well as spirometric and respiratory muscle strength tests were conducted according to the specifications of the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS). In order to compare the measured values versus the predicted values, Student t test was used in the case of parametric test and Wilcoxon test in the case of nonparametric test. To compare the inter-group means Student t test was used for parametric test and Mann-Whitney test for the nonparametric one. The level of significance was set at α = 5%. Results: The forced vital capacity (FVC) (4.9±0.6 l vs. 4.3±0.4 l) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) (4.0±0.5 l vs. 3.6±0.3 l) were, respectively, higher in the group of divers compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, in the group of free divers, the measured FVC, FEV 1 and FEV 1 /FVC ratios were significantly greater than the predicted ones. No differences were found between the measured respiratory pressures. Conclusions: These results indicate that breath-hold diving seems to produce chronic adaptations of the respiratory system, resulting in elevated lung volumes with no airway obstruction.

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Section: Lung Function In Breath-hold Diving Fishermen O R I G I N a contrasting

confidence: 97%

Section: Lung Function In Breath-hold Diving Fishermen O R I G I N a mentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Lung Function In Breath-hold Diving Fishermen O R I G I N a mentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Chronic adaptations of lung function in breath-hold diving fishermen

Diniz¹,

Farias²,

Pereira³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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Ventilatory function in breath-hold divers: effect of glossopharyngeal insufflation

Lemaître

Clua²,

Andréani³

et al. 2009

Eur J Appl Physiol

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This study was conducted to determine whether ventilatory parameters would change in breath-hold divers (BHDs) after they performed the glossopharyngeal technique for lung insufflation. Fifteen elite BHDs, 16 non-expert BHDs and 15 control subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. Volumes and expiratory flow rates were measured twice, before and after the glossopharyngeal technique performed at rest. Before the technique, greater forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and lower FEV(1)/FVC were noted in the elite and non-expert BHDs compared with controls. No difference was noted regarding the other pulmonary parameters. After the technique, increases were noted in FVC, FEV(1) and maximal voluntary ventilation in the elite BHDs (P < 0.001, respectively). The FEF(25-75%)/FVC ratios were lower in the BHDs both before and after the technique, indicating possible dysanapsis. The ventilatory parameters observed after the glossopharyngeal technique indicated (1) higher lung volumes in expert BHDs and (2) a correlation with BHD performance (maximal dynamic BH performance). This correlation became more significant after the technique, indicating a positive effect of glossopharyngeal insufflation on performance.

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Transient ischemic attacks from arterial gas embolism induced by glossopharyngeal insufflation and a possible method to identify individuals at risk

Schiffer

Lindholm

2012

Eur J Appl Physiol

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Breath-hold divers report transient, severe neurological symptoms that could be caused by arterial gas embolism after glossopharyngeal insufflation. This technique is often used to overinflate the lungs and stretch the chest prior to breath-holding and can increase the transpulmonary pressure to around 7-8 kPa, so introducing risk of pulmonary barotrauma. Airway pressure, blood pressure and static spirometry (nitrogen dilution) were measured simultaneously in ten subjects attempting to identify individuals at risk. Compared to baseline, total lung capacity (TLC) after glossopharyngeal insufflation increased by 19 % along with increased vital capacity (23 %) and residual volume (6 %) (P < 0.05), while mean relaxed airway pressure (P (aw)) at TLC increased from 3.62 ± 0.93 to 7.26 ± 2.04 kPa as a result of performing glossopharyngeal insufflation (P = 0.0001). Blood pressure fell during glossopharyngeal insufflation and attained relaxed airway pressure correlated positively to baseline mean arterial pressure in the subjects. Two of the subjects had glossopharyngeal insufflation-related accidents before the study and two subjects (with the highest P (aw) during GI; 9 and 10.3 kPa respectively) suffered glossopharyngeal insufflation-related accidents within 6 months after our study, with one suffering a non-fatal drowning accident. The principal finding of this study was that some subjects were able to use GI to reach P (aw) high enough to suggest a risk of pulmonary barotrauma, while other subjects would lose consciousness due to hypotension while still within safe limits of pulmonary pressure. This mechanism could offer an alternative explanation to drowning in breath-hold divers, and indicates that glossopharyngeal insufflation should be avoided or done with extreme caution.

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Characteristics of the respiratory mechanical and muscle function of competitive breath-hold divers

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

Chronic adaptations of lung function in breath-hold diving fishermen

Chronic adaptations of lung function in breath-hold diving fishermen

Ventilatory function in breath-hold divers: effect of glossopharyngeal insufflation

Transient ischemic attacks from arterial gas embolism induced by glossopharyngeal insufflation and a possible method to identify individuals at risk

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