A comparison of methods used to quantify the work of breathing during exercise

Abstract

The measurement of the work of breathing (Wb) during exercise provides us with deep insights into respiratory (patho)physiology, and sheds light on the putative factors which lead to respiratory muscle fatigue. There are 4 popular methods available to determine the Wb. Our study demonstrates that no two of these methods produce identical values of Wb during exercise. This paper also discusses the practical and theoretical limitations of each method.