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EFFECTS OF NECK POSTURE ON VENTILATION AND PERCIEVED EXERTION IN TRAINED FEMALES

Abstract

EFFECTS OF NECK POSTURE ON VENTILATION AND PERCIEVED EXERTION IN TRAINED FEMALES

S. Moore, S. Thompson, K. Doesburg, K. Johnston, M. Clark, J. Portillo, T. Leahy, D. McCann

Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine if changes in head and neck positions affect tidal volume and breathing frequency and if these changes would alter the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of female collegiate runners. METHODS: Sixteen females (age: 20.1 ± 1.4 yr., stature: 169.0 ± 4.6 cm, mass: 57.4 ± 4.2 kg) from the Gonzaga University’s NCAA Division I distance track team participated in a randomized and counterbalanced, single blind study. Subjects wore a device, which was used to adjust the position of their head to the three experimental conditions creating the following craniocervical positions: flexion of 40º, extension of 30º, and a neutral head position of 0º. Each condition lasted 7 min and a ParvoMedics metabolic cart was used to measure ventilation (VE), tidal volume, breathing frequency (Vf), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), oxygen consumption (VO2), and heart rate (HR). The subjects ran at a predetermined speed corresponding to a steady-state heart rate between 165 and 170 min-1 on a Trackmaster treadmill (group mean speed: 3.8 ± 0.3 m.s-1). At the end of each condition, subjects reported their RPE based on the Borg scale. Results were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Differences in VE, VT, Vf, VCO2, VO2, and HR between conditions were not significant (P > 0.05). Increases in RPE from neutral to flexion and neutral to extension were significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that while extreme neck positions have no physiological effect, they elicit a negative psychological response that has the potential to influence pace selection and therefore hinder performance.

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