BACKGROUND: Breathing technique may influence endurance exercise performance by reducing overall breathing work and delaying respiratory muscle fatigue. We investigated whether a two-month yoga-based breathing intervention could affect breathing characteristics during exercise. METHODS: Forty-six endurance runners (age = 16.6 ± 1.2 years) were randomized to either a breathing intervention or control group. The contribution of abdominal, thoracic, and subclavian musculature to respiration and ventilation parameters during three different intensities on a cycle ergometer was assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Post-intervention, abdominal, thoracic, and subclavian ventilatory contributions were altered at 2 W·kg-1 (27:23:50 to 31:28:41), 3 W·kg-1 (26:22:52 to 28:31:41), and 4 W·kg-1 (24:24:52 to 27:30:43), whereas minimal changes were observed in the control group. More specifically, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in abdominal contribution was observed at rest and during low intensity work (i.e., 2 and 3 W·kg-1), and a decrease in respiratory rate and increase of tidal volume were observed in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight an increased reliance on more efficient abdominal and thoracic musculature, and less recruitment of subclavian musculature, in young endurance athletes during exercise following a two-month yoga-based breathing intervention. More efficient ventilatory muscular recruitment may benefit endurance performance by reducing energy demand and thus optimize energy requirements for mechanical work.

Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology Biodynamics and Human Performance Center Armstrong Campus Georgia Southern University Savannah GA 31419 USA

Department of Sports Studies Faculty of Education University of South Bohemia 371 15 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Sports Motor Skills Laboratory Faculty of Sports Physical Training and Education Charles University 165 52 Prague Czech Republic

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