Respiratory muscle endurance training reduces the O2 cost of cycling and perceived exertion in obese adolescents

In obesity, the increased O-2 cost of breathing negatively affects the O-2 cost of exercise and exercise tolerance. The purpose of the study was to determine whether, in obese adolescents, the addition of respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) (isocapnic hyperpnea) to a standard body mass reduction program decreases the O-2 cost of exercise and perceived exertion. Nine male obese adolescents [16.0 +/- 1.4 yr (x +/- SD), body mass 114.4 +/- 22.3 kg] underwent 3 wk of RMET (5 days/week) in addition to a standard body mass reduction program. Eight age-and sex-matched obese adolescents underwent only the standard program (CTRL). Before and after interventions, patients performed on a cycle ergometer: incremental exercise; 12-min exercises at a constant work rate (CWR) of 65% and 120% at the gas exchange threshold (GET) determined before the intervention. Breath-by-breath pulmonary ventilation (V-E) and O-2 uptake (V-O2), heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion for dyspnea/respiratory discomfort (RPER) and leg effort (RPEL) were determined. Body mass decreased (by similar to 3.0 kg) after both RMET (P = 0.003) and CTRL (P = 0.002). Peak V-O2 was not affected by both interventions. Peak work rate was slightly, but significantly (P = 0.04), greater after RMET but not after CTRL. During CWR < GET, no changes were observed after both interventions. During CWR > GET, the O-2 cost of cycling at the end of exercise (P = 0.02), the slope of V-O2 vs. time (3-12 min) (P = 0.01), RPER (P = 0.01), and RPEL (P = 0.01) decreased following RMET, but not following CTRL. HR decreased after both RMET (P = 0.02) and CTRL (P = 0.03), whereas V-E did not change. In obese adolescents RMET, superimposed on a standard body mass reduction program, lowered the O-2 cost of cycling and perceived exertion during constant heavy-intensity exercise.