Inspiratory muscle performance in endurance-trained elderly males during incremental exercise

The aim of this study was to compare the inspiratory muscle performance during an incremental exercise of twelve fit old endurance-trained athletes (OT) with that of fit young athletes (YT) and healthy age-matched controls (OC). The tension-time index (T-T0.1) was determined according to the equation T-T0.1 = P-0.1/P-lmax x t(i)/t(tot) where P-0.1 is the mouth occlusion pressure, P-lmax the maximal inspiratory pressure and tiittot the duty cycle. For a given VCO2, OT group displayed P-0.1, P-0.1/P-lmax ratio, T-T0.1 and effective impedance of the respiratory muscle values which were lower than OC group and higher than YT group. At maximal exercise, P-0.1/P-lmax ratio and T-T0.1 was still lower in the OT group than OC group and higher than YT group. This study showed lower inspiratory muscle performance attested by a higher (T-T0.1) during exercise in the OT group than YT group, but appeared to be less marked in elderly men having performed lifelong endurance training compared with sedentary elderly subjects. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.