Age-related declines in muscle and respiratory function are proportionate to declines in performance in Master Track Cyclists.

PURPOSE: Respiratory and musculoskeletal function decline with age, irrespective of physical activity levels. Previous work has suggested that the age-related rate of decline in function of these two systems might be similar, but it is not known to what extent each system contributes to decreasing performance in ageing master cyclists. Therefore, the purposes of this study are (1) whether the age-related rate of decline in respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, muscle architecture, muscle function, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and performance in master cyclists is uniform and (2) which parameters contribute most to the reduction in performance with age. METHODS: Master cyclists were recruited during the Track Cycling Masters World Championship 2019 in Manchester. Respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength were determined using spirometry and a mouth pressure device, respectively. Muscle architecture was determined using ultrasonography, and muscle function by countermovement jump. RESULTS: Forced expiratory volume in the first second, forced vital capacity, fascicle length, muscle thickness, take-off velocity, jump power, jump power per body mass, handgrip strength, haemoglobin concentration and performance correlated negatively with age (p ≤ 0.043). The age-related rate of decline did not differ significantly between parameters (p = 0.124), but it was slower for haemoglobin concentration (p = 0.041). Take-off velocity was the major determinant of performance in 200, 500 and 2000 m track cycling disciplines (R2adj = 0.675, 0.786 and 0.769, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Age-related decline in respiratory and muscle system is accompanied by a similar rate of decline in performance. The major contribution to the age-related decline of performance is reduced muscle function, specifically take-off velocity.

Analysis of respiratory muscle strength and its relationship with functional capacity between different field tests in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze respiratory muscle strength of patients with heart failure (HF) and correlate with functional capacity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved patients with compensated HF of both sexes, aged above 18 years. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP) using a manovacuometer. Patients were randomized into two groups to assess functional capacity: six-minute walk test (6MWT) and incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT). RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were evaluated (23 from 6MWT and 25 from ISWT group). Most were male (67.8%), with mean age of 62.3 years and left ventricular ejection fraction of 40.8%. Mean predicted values of MIP [81.2% (74.7-87.8%)] and MEP [95.6% (88.2-103.0%)] did not indicate respiratory muscle weakness. The higher the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, the lower the MIP (p = .011) and MEP (p = .016) values. Physically active patients presented higher respiratory muscle strength than those sedentary (MIP: 104.5 vs. 71.9 cmH2O, p < .001; MEP: 120.0 vs. 91.1 cmH2O, p = .004). Functional capacity was impaired [6MWT: 416.0 m (372.8-459.3 m); ISWT: 304 m (263.4-344.9 m)], and distance covered in the ISWT was shorter than 6MWT group (p < .001). Distance covered in the ISWT group presented a moderate positive correlation with MIP (r = 0.45; p = .022) and MEP (r = 0.41; p = .041). CONCLUSION: Most patients with HF presented respiratory muscle strength close to predicted values; however, sedentary patients and those with high NYHA functional class, showed reduced MIP and MEP. Functional capacity was reduced, and MIP and MEP correlated with distance covered in the ISWT.

Effects of mouthpiece shape and expiratory threshold loading on contraction of the lateral abdominal muscles: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Expiratory tasks may facilitate transversus abdominis (TrA) activity for spinal stabilization. The purpose of this study was to verify whether a combination of pursed-lip breathing (PLB) and use of an expiratory threshold loading (ETL) device to increase expiratory resistance would promote TrA contraction comparable to that for a stabilization exercise. METHODS: Twenty healthy men performed expiratory tasks or an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM). Expiratory tasks comprised combinations of ETL settings with 0%, 5%, or 15% of maximum expiratory pressure, and mouthpieces with a normal shape or pursed-lip shape. B-mode ultrasound imaging of the TrA, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles was performed to determine percentage changes in muscle thickness. Percentage changes among tasks were statistically compared for each muscle. FINDINGS: TrA thickness increased with normal lips at 15% ETL, with PLB with 5% ETL, and with ADIM (p < 0.01 each). Internal oblique thickness increased under all PLB conditions (p < 0.01 each). No significant differences in external oblique thickness were seen for any tasks. The total thickness of the lateral abdominal muscles was significantly increased not only for 15% ETL tasks and ADIM, but also for PLB with 5% ETL (p < 0.02 each). INTERPRETATION: These results indicated that PLB with 5% ETL could facilitate the same level of TrA activity as the ADIM. PLB with 5% ETL was the only task that simultaneously increased overall lateral abdominal muscles, including the internal obliques, and might be readily applicable in clinical situations.

Physiotherapeutic approaches and the effects on inspiratory muscle force in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the pre-operative preparation for abdominal surgical procedures / Abordagens fisioterapêuticas e os efeitos na força muscular inspiratória em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica no preparo para procedimentos cirúrgicos abdominais

ABSTRACT Background: Abdominal disorders can alter respiratory function and increase the morbidity and mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Aim: To improve the physiotherapeutic and muscular capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary muscular inspiration in the preoperative preparation in abdominal surgeries. Method: Retrospective and documentary study using SINPE © , clinical database software of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and candidates to abdominal operation. The sample consisted of 100 men aged 55-70 years, all with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who underwent preoperative physiotherapeutic treatment. They were divided into two groups of 50 individuals (group A and group B). In group A the patients were treated with modern mobility techniques for bronchial clearance and the strengthening of the respiratory muscles was performed with IMT ® Threshold. In group B the treatment performed for bronchial obstruction was with classic maneuvers and for the strengthening of the respiratory muscles for flow incentive was used Respiron ® . Results: Both groups obtained improvement in the values ​​of the PiMáx after the different treatments. Group A obtained greater change in the intervals and a more significant increase of the values of the PiMax in relation to the average pre and post-treatment. However, when analyzing the variance and the standard deviation of the samples, group B presented the best results showing more homogeneity. Conclusions: The modern and traditional bronchial clearance techniques associated with inspiratory muscle training were equally effective in gaining inspiratory muscle strength with increased Pmax. In this way, the two can be used in the preoperative preparation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and referred to abdominal operations.

RESUMO Racional: As operações abdominais podem alterar a função respiratória e aumentar a morbimortalidade dos operados com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. Objetivo: Avaliar que técnica fisioterapêutica apresenta melhor efeito na força muscular inspiratória dos pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica no preparo pré-operatório em operações abdominais. Método: Estudo retrospectivo e documental usando o SINPE©, software de banco de dados clínicos de pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e candidatos a operações abdominais. A amostra foi composta de 100 homens com idade entre 55-70 anos, todos com DPOC com indicação para operação abdominal e que realizaram tratamento fisioterapêutico pré-operatório. Foram divididos em dois grupos de 50 indivíduos (grupo A e grupo B). No grupo A o tratamento realizado para a desobstrução brônquica foi com técnicas modernas e para fortalecimento dos músculos respiratórios foi realizado o Threshold IMT®. No grupo B o tratamento realizado para desobstrução brônquica foi com técnicas tradicionais e para fortalecimento dos músculos respiratórios foi realizado incentivador a fluxo Respiron®. Resultados: Ambos os grupos obtiveram melhora dos valores da PiMáx (Pressão inspiratória Máxima) após o tratamento com abordagens diferentes com melhora também nos intervalos da PiMáx. O grupo A obteve maior mudança nos intervalos e aumento mais significativo dos valores da PiMáx em relação à média pré e pós tratamento. Porém, ao analisar a variância e o desvio-padrão das amostras, o grupo B apresentou melhor distribuição que o grupo A mostrando que seus resultados na amostra foram mais homogêneos. Conclusões: As técnicas modernas e tradicionais de desobstrução brônquica associadas ao treinamento muscular inspiratório mostraram-se igualmente eficazes no ganho de força dos músculos inspiratórios com aumento da PiMáx. Dessa forma as duas podem ser utilizadas no preparo pré-operatório de pacientes com DPOC e encaminhados para operações abdominais.