Exercise with End-expiratory Breath Holding Induces Large Increase in Stroke Volume

Abstract

Eight well-trained male cyclists participated in two testing sessions each including two sets of 10 cycle exercise bouts at 150% of maximal aerobic power. In the first session, subjects performed the exercise bouts with end-expiratory breath holding (EEBH) of maximal duration. Each exercise bout started at the onset of EEBH and ended at its release (mean duration: 9.6±0.9 s; range: 8.6–11.1 s). At the second testing session, subjects performed the exercise bouts (same duration as in the first session) with normal breathing. Heart rate, left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV), and cardiac output were continuously measured through bio-impedancemetry. Data were analysed for the 4 s preceding and following the end of each exercise bout. LVSV (peak values: 163±33 vs. 124±17 mL, p<0.01) was higher and heart rate lower both in the end phase and in the early recovery of the exercise bouts with EEBH as compared with exercise with normal breathing. Cardiac output was generally not different between exercise conditions. This study showed that performing maximal EEBH during high-intensity exercise led to a large increase in LVSV. This phenomenon is likely explained by greater left ventricular filling as a result of an augmented filling time and decreased right ventricular volume at peak EEBH.

Breath Tools: A Synthesis of Evidence-Based Breathing Strategies to Enhance Human Running

“…BH protocols lasting 3–5 weeks reported performance gains of 3%–4% related to two acute mechanisms: increased stroke volume (up to 30%) and haemoglobin concentration (up to 10%; Woorons et al, 2016 ; Lapointe et al, 2020 ; Woorons et al, 2020 ). These ergogenic benefits are likely due to increased left ventricular stroke volume ( Woorons et al, 2021b ) and post-BH spleen contraction ( Inoue et al, 2013 ). Only one study was found that examined the acute effects of BH during running ( Woorons et al, 2021a ).…”

Effects of repeated-sprint training in hypoxia induced by voluntary hypoventilation on performance during ice hockey off-season

“…19 These authors attributed the augmented oxygen uptake to a greater stroke volume which may be the consequence of the large ventricular filling and the "pump effect" that occur at the end or just after each bout of end-expiratory breath holding. 16,17,33 This central adaptation assumption was recently reinforced by the larger muscle re-oxygenation observed during the recovery periods of a RSA test without concomitant greater oxygen extraction following four weeks of RSH-VHL in basketball players. 21 Considering that in the present study the SpO 2 levels recorded during training in RSH-VHL were similar to those of the previous studies, it is likely that the physiological adaptations were also similar.…”

Effects of short-term repeated sprint training in hypoxia or with blood flow restriction on response to exercise

“…However, previous literature has reported some enhancement of molecular actors involved in glycolysis with RSH [ 7 , 52 ]. RSH with voluntary hypoventilation at low lung volume due to the hypercapnic effect also promotes significant effects on blood lactate concentration and stroke volume [ 18 , 54 ]. Finally, a significant impact of training was observed concerning minute ventilation and RER suggesting that RST may induce changes in muscle metaboreflex and chemoreflex activation [ 55 , 56 ].…”