Wearable Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Valve Improves Exercise Performance

Authors

Alexandra L. Remy, Texas A&M University, College StationFollow
Jason R. Lytle, Texas A&M University, College Station
Sean Boutros, GO2 Devices, Houston, TX
William Benton, GO2 Devices, Houston, TX
Michael Moreno, Texas A&M University, College Station
Patrick McCulloch, Houston Methodist Hospital
Brad S. Lambert, Houston Methodist Hospital
Stephen F. Crouse, Texas A&M University, College Station

Abstract

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) provides benefits to pulmonary patients, yet effects in healthy, exercising adults are unknown. PURPOSE: We designed two experiments (EXP) to test a novel PEEP (4.2 cmH₂O PEEP) mouthpiece (PMP) on maximal cycling performance of physically active volunteers. METHODS: EXP-1 PMP vs. control (CON) mouthpiece (N=9, Age=30±2 yr, Weight=72.2±3.7 kg, BMI=24.4±1.2, 5♂); and EXP-2 PMP vs. no mouthpiece (NMP) (N=10, Age=27±1 yr, Weight=76.7±3.6 kg, BMI=23.9±0.8, ♂). Exercise test procedures for both experiments were identical. On Day 1, under the first mouthpiece condition assigned at random subjects performed graded exercise cycling testing (GXT) (Corival^®) for VO_{2peak (ml*kg*min}^-1₎, oxygen pulse _(mlO2*bt) (O₂pulse)_, GXT endurance time _(s) (GXT-T), and VO_2(ml*kg*min^-1₎-at-ventilatory-threshold (VO₂ @VT). Subjects returned 72 h later (Day 2), to complete an endurance ride timed (s)to exhaustion (VTER) at an intensity equivalent to their VO₂ @VT power _(W). One week later, subjects repeated exercise testing protocols (Days 3 & 4, time-of-day controlled) under the alternate mouthpiece condition. RESULTS: Selected outcomes were as follows (paired T-test, *PMP vs. CON, respectively: VO_2peak=45.2±2.4* vs. 42.4±2.3; VO₂@VT=33.7±2.0 vs. 32.3±1.6; GXT-T=521.7±73.4* vs. 495.3±72.8; VTER=846.2±166.0 vs. 743.1±124.7; O₂pulse=24.5±1.4* vs. 23.1±1.3. PMP vs. NMP, respectively: VO_2peak=43.3±1.6* vs. 41.7±1.6; VO₂@AT=31.1±1.2* vs. 29.1±1.3; GXT-T=511.7*±49.6 vs. 486.4±49.6; VTER 872.4±134.0 vs. 792.9 ± 122.4; O₂pulse=24.1±0.9* vs. 23.4±0.9. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the novel PEEP mouthpiece we tested confers a significant performance benefit to cyclists completing high intensity exercise. By extension, it is likely to be an advantage in any physical activity having an aerobic component.

Recommended Citation

Remy, Alexandra L.; Lytle, Jason R.; Boutros, Sean; Benton, William; Moreno, Michael; McCulloch, Patrick; Lambert, Brad S.; and Crouse, Stephen F. (2020) "Wearable Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Valve Improves Exercise Performance," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 12, Article 62.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss12/62