Effect of coupling the breathing- and cycling rhythms on oxygen uptake during bicycle ergometry

The influence of the degree of coupling between the breathing and cycling rhythms (K) on oxygen uptake <img src="/fulltext-image.asp?format=htmlnonpaginated&src=VRLV1G38494H047Q_html\421_2004_Article_BF00422959_TeX2GIFIE1.gif" border="0" alt=" $$\dot V_{O_2 } $$ " /> was examined in 30 volunteers. They cycled on an ergometer with a load equal to 50% of their work capacity 170 in two experimental runs with spontaneous breathing rhythm, and in a further two runs with acoustically triggered breathing. K was continuously ascertained. <img src="/fulltext-image.asp?format=htmlnonpaginated&src=VRLV1G38494H047Q_html\421_2004_Article_BF00422959_TeX2GIFIE2.gif" border="0" alt=" $$\dot V_{O_2 } $$ " /> and other respiratory parameters were measured by an automatic “breath-by-breath analysis” system.