Breathing in Sport and Exercise: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Applications

About this Research Topic

Background

The importance of breathing monitoring is underappreciated in the field of sport and exercise. The respiratory system has long been considered overbuilt for exercise as it is usually not the limiting factor for maximal oxygen uptake. However, growing evidence suggests that ventilatory variables (respiratory frequency (ƒ_R) especially) are closely associated with perceived exertion and exercise tolerance in different populations and exercise conditions, with important implications for endurance physiology and performance. Renewed interest in this topic is fostered by evidence suggesting that ƒ_R and tidal volume (V_T) are regulated by different inputs during exercise. While V_T (the metabolic component of minute ventilation) seems to be mainly regulated by metabolic inputs, ƒ_R (the behavioural component) appears to be substantially regulated by fast inputs (e.g. central command and muscle afferent feedback). The differential control of ƒ_R and V_T offers interesting perspectives for respiratory monitoring in applied settings, a field that is growing fast due to technological development.

The purpose of this Research Topic is to improve our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of breathing during exercise and exploit this knowledge to advance the field of respiratory monitoring in applied settings. While ƒ_R is a valid marker of physical effort, it is not currently monitored in the field, unlike other physiological variables (e.g. heart rate). This is surprising given the abundance of sensors and techniques currently available for ƒ_R measurement. Investigating the differential control of ƒ_R and V_T is fundamental to improving our understanding of how to monitor breathing in different populations and conditions. For instance, the differential control of ƒ_R and V_T may shed some light on exertional dyspnoea in different patients and help assess the athlete’s response to environmental challenges like hyperthermia, cold and hypoxia. Furthermore, the fact that ƒ_R is sensitive to cognitive load, emotional stress, clinical deterioration and pain makes respiratory monitoring useful for athletes and patients also during sleep and daily activities. Hence, to advance this field of research, future studies should focus on the regulation of different ventilatory variables and on the relevant information that they contain. This goal can be achieved by facilitating integration from different disciplines.

With the aim of bridging the gap between the physiology/pathophysiology of breathing and respiratory monitoring in applied settings, we welcome any research contribution investigating either ventilatory control during exercise or the practical applications of respiratory monitoring during sport and exercise. Among the suggested topics are:
• Ventilatory control during exercise
• Acute and chronic ventilatory responses to exercise
• Association between ventilatory responses and psychological variables during exercise
• Effects of different experimental interventions (e.g. respiratory muscle training or fatigue) on ventilatory responses to exercise
• The mechanics of breathing during exercise
• Respiratory monitoring in athletes and patients
• Respiratory monitoring in extreme environments
• Validity of wearable sensors for respiratory monitoring during exercise

There are no restrictions on the article types beyond those defined by the journals and sections selected for this Research Topic. The submission of original articles is especially encouraged.

Image reproduced from Nicolò et al. (2014), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0094990

Keywords: Respiratory frequency, tidal volume, perceived exertion, dyspnoea, exercise tolerance, endurance performance, respiratory monitoring

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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