Cardiopulmonary Response to Conical-PEP Breathing During Exercise in Older People.

Cardiopulmonary Response to Conical Positive Expiratory Breathing During Exercise in Older People.

Aim of this study is to compare cardiopulmonary response to conical-PEP breathing during exercise in older people.

It is known that all most structures and physiological functions deteriorate with age, leading to decrease exercise performance, functional decline and gradual decrease of physical activity in aging.

The most essential change of respiratory physiology are: dilatation of alveoli, enlargement of air space, decrease gas exchange surface area, loss of supporting tissue for distal airway (senile emphysema), decrees of chest wall compliance and decrease of respiratory muscle strength. These changes leading to decrease lung elastic recoil, increase residual volume and functional capacity, and increase work of breathing at rest. In addition, such changes affect respiratory function, especially dynamic hyperinflation (DH) development which could be one of the factors relate to dyspnea during exercise in aging Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy for DH treatment during exercise was reported in several studies.

It is possible that PEP breathing may improve cardiopulmonary response to exercise in older people.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elder age between 60 to 80 years old with normal spirometry

Exclusion Criteria:

• They are diagnose with cardiovascular disease and, i.e. valvular heart disease, coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, myocardial heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, hyperlipidemia; or, present abnormal sign of heart problems previous month, such as chest pain, arrhythmia, abnormal ECG.
• They are impair balance from neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, or vestibular problem affecting cycling and walking.