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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic training with increased resistance of chest wall movement on ventilatory efficiency and pulmonary functions in untrained students. 18 untrained healthy male university students volunteered to participate in this study and were divided into two groups. They performed aerobic training with 70% – 80% of HRmax, three days a week for four weeks¬. Experimental or chest wall restriction (CWR) group (height=176.33±4.35 cm, weight=72.64±9.53kg and VO2max=42.29±5.46ml/kg/min) performed aerobic training with an elastic strap on their chest¬ wall but control or non-chest wall restriction (NCWR) group (height=173.88±4.31cm, weight=70.55±11.12kg and VO2max=42.68±2.51 ml/kg/min) performed aerobic training without the elastic strap. The elastic strap resistance decreased 10% of each subject’s forced vital capacity (FVC). Pulmonary functions were measured via an automated respiratory function/metabolic gas exchange system (Model K4B2, Cosmed Co., Italy). To analyze the data, dependent and independent t student test was used. The results of the independent t test showed a significant difference between pretest and posttest of VE/VO2¬, VE/VCO2, VEmax and MVV in CWR and VE/VCO2, VEmax and ¬MVV in NCWR (P<0/05). No significant difference was observed in other variables between the two groups. Dependent t test showed that chest wall restricted with the elastic strap during aerobic training had a statistical effect on VEmax , MVV and VE/VO2, but had no statistical effect on VE/VCO2, FVC, FEV1/FVC¬, VD/VT, VO2/HR and respiratory frequency (rf) in CWR compared to NCWR. Generally, the results of this study showed that elastic strap to enforce pulmonary muscle during aerobic training had greater effect on ventilatory efficiency and some pulmonary functions compared to aerobic training solely.

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