Priming cardiac function with voluntary respiratory maneuvers and effect on early exercise oxygen uptake

Abstract

We demonstrate that different breathing maneuvers can augment both right and left-sided cardiac output in healthy subjects. These maneuvers, when performed immediately before exercise, result in a pre-exercise “cardiodynamic” increase in oxygen uptake (V̇o2) associated with a subsequent reduction in the “cardiodynamic” V̇o2 normally seen during early exercise. We conclude that pre-exercise breathing maneuvers are a plausible tool worthy of additional study to prime V̇o2 kinetics and improve exercise tolerance in patients with cardiovascular disease.