Gender Differences in Workload Effect on Coordination between Breathing and Cycling

Abstract

The present study demonstrates that the effect of exercise intensity on the occurrence of coordination between breathing and cycling rhythms differs between men and women.

Effects of Gait Variations on Grip Force Coordination During Object Transport

“…This alternative hypothesis is supported by studies showing subjects are remarkably adept at predicting the overall timing of locomotion associated with regularly paced steps using motor imagery (Bakker et al 2007;Decety et al 1989;Papaxanthis et al 2002a). Thus the strength of the grip-inertial force coupling may be determined by the regularity of the walking cycle in a manner similar to the coordination of breathing with walking, running, or other cyclical limb movements (i.e., via entrainment) (Bernasconi et al 1995;Ebert et al 2000;Kohl et al 1981;Rassler and Kohl 2000;Seebauer et al 2003), and a shift from a regular pattern to an irregular one could disrupt this relationship (e.g., Nishino and Hiraga 1991;Prokop et al 1995;Reisman et al 2005).…”

Ventilation and Locomotion in Humans: Mechanisms, Implications, and Perturbations to the Coupling of These Two Rhythms

“…Finally, differences exist in hormonal levels/activity between men and women, resulting in well-defined disparities in physiological measures. Another study by the same researchers [133] found evidence to suggest differences between the way in which men and women adjust LRC over a range of exercise intensities. Specifically, degree of entrainment with increasing cycling intensity increases in men, while remaining unchanged in women.…”

Comparative Control of Respiration

“…With exercise, the frequency of the breathing cycle may become coordinated with the frequency of limb movements. Hence, entrainment can occur at various ratios, which depend on factors such as mode of exercise, intensity, and experience (Bernasconi and Kohl, 1993;Seebauer et al, 2003). This occurs to a variable degree among mammals with different forms of locomotion, as well as over the range of exercise intensities within a species.…”