Respiratory muscle fatigue modulates the circulatory response to exercise

Abstract

This is a brief review of recent evidence concerning the influences of respiratory muscle fatigue on the circulatory response to exercise, endurance exercise performance and associated peripheral locomotor muscle fatigue. Inspiratory muscle fatigue enhances muscle sympathetic vasomotor outflow and blood pressure during exercise. As a consequence, blood flow and oxygen transport to the working limbs are reduced, and this exacerbates the development of peripheral muscle fatigue and compromises endurance performance. These effects are relevant for healthy humans performing high intensity endurance, and, even at mild intensities, for patients with pulmonary disease and heart failure.