INTRODUCTION: Exercise is pursued by healthy, clinical and athletic populations and
unquestionably, plays a pivotal role in health and wellbeing and the advancement of
athletic performance. The ability to exercise at higher intensities provides a greater
stimulus for cardio-pulmonary, metabolic, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal adaptations
but is compromised by fatigue-limiting symptoms, both physiological and psychological,
the mechanisms underpinning which are not completely understood. Recent advances in
our understanding of fatigue mechanisms have identified respiratory system limitations and
the potential for respiratory adaptation. Individual breathing patterns exist, functional and
dysfunctional, influenced genetically, developmentally and by multiple
psychophysiological mechanisms but importantly it exhibits considerable plasticity.
Advances in neuroscience, have identified the potential for respiratory neuroplasticity and
its’ bi-directionality, with meditation style activities which incorporate deep breathing
showing both functional and structural changes in neural structures and circuitry.
Differences between athletes and non-athletes and males and females in both pattern and
response to exercise exist. Little research has focused on the manipulation of breathing
patterns which can potentially influence physiological and psychological factors in fatigue
mechanisms. AIM: To investigate if adopting a deep breathing pattern during exercise can
improve exercise performance via effects on gas exchange parameters and/or perceived
exertion. MEHODS: Three studies examined the effect of a self-regulated, deep breathing
pattern on exercise performance. Study 1 examined constant work rate (CWR) heavy
intensity exercise in a heterogenous group of healthy males and females, untrained and
trained runners. Study 2 assessed endurance running performance, via a lab-based
maximal, incremental vVO2peak treadmill running test. Study 3 examined the effect on
high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) performance via a lab-based, treadmill interval
running test to exhaustion. RESULTS: Study 1 showed a significant improvement in
locomotor efficiency as observed by reductions in both oxygen cost and energy cost. Study
2 and Study 3 showed no significant difference in performance measures.
CONCLUSION: Deep breathing improves locomotor efficiency in CWR, heavy intensity
locomotion. No significant benefit was observed on running performance or HIIE
performance in healthy male endurance athletes.