Increases in inspiratory neural drive in response to rapid oscillating airflow braking forces (vibration).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether 10 breaths against a vibration stimulus elicits increments of spontaneous and maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (maxMP) and tidal mean inspiratory flow (iV(T)/T(I)) upon stimulus removal.


METHODS
Twelve healthy subjects (8 female, 4 male; 22-50 years old), recruited from the University student body, completed 3 maximal inspirations before (pre) and after (post) 10 inspirations against resistive loading with a vibration-type stimulus (VIB; youbreathe, Exoscience Ltd., London, UK), pressure-matched resistive loading (RES) or resting breathing (CON; no load). The trials were presented in a random order. maxMP and involuntary tidal breathing were compared pre and post conditioning.


RESULTS
Inspiratory neural drive increased only after VIB as evidenced by increased tidal and maxMP and mean inspiratory flow (iV(T)/T(I); p < 0.05). There was no effect of either resistance or control breathing on maximal maxMP or tidal responses.


CONCLUSIONS
Ten conditioning breaths of VIB lead to increased maximal inspiratory mouth pressure and spontaneous mouth pressure and mean inspiratory flow possibly through a common mechanism of increased descending respiratory drive.
London South Bank University, Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Science and the Built Environment, London, United Kingdom. sumnerdp@lsbu.ac.uk
David Paul
DP
Sumners
David A
DA
Green
Katya N
KN
Mileva
Joanna L
JL
Bowtell
D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration; D014939:Work of Breathing / Q000502:physiology*