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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Respiratory patterns and physical fitness in healthy adults: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Wen-Ming Liang, Yu-Xuan Ji, Jing Xiao, Inga Truskauskaitė, Adomas Hendrixson, Zhen-Min Bai, Osvaldas Ruksenas

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

The altered respiratory patterns have a significant impact on our health. However, the links between respiration patterns during spontaneous breathing and physical fitness remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to examine how the respiratory pattern during spontaneous breathing interacts with physical fitness.

Methods

A total of 610 participants (aged 20-59 years) were enrolled; 163 men (age = 41 ± 11) and 401 women (age = 42 ± 9) were included for analysis. The parameters of the respiration pattern were respiration rate (RR) and inhalation/exhalation (I/E) ratio. The physical fitness components were body size, visuomotor reaction time, balance, flexibility, hand grip strength, back extension strength, vertical jump height, number of push-ups, number of sit-ups, and the maximum rate of oxygen consumption. The data were analyzed separately for two gender groups. Participants within each gender group were further divided into two age categories (young: 20−39 years, middle-aged: 40−59 years) for the analysis, and both correlational and comparative tests were used to solidify the results.

Results

Neither RRs nor the I/E ratios were substantially correlated with physical fitness in women. In addition, the I/E ratios showed no significant correlation with physical fitness in young men, while the results from correlational and comparative tests were inconsistent in middle-aged men. Consistently, men with lower RRs exhibited significantly shorter visuomotor reaction times in two age groups, and demonstrated significantly higher vertical jump heights in the middle-aged group.

Conclusions

In women, respiratory patterns were not correlated with physical fitness. The relationship between middle-aged men’s I/E ratios and their physical fitness warrants further investigation. Men with lower RRs may have better visual-motor coordination and/or sustained attention, while middle-aged men with lower RRs may also have greater leg explosive power and neuromuscular coordination, which should be considered for physical assessment and health improvement.

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Title: Respiratory patterns and physical fitness in healthy adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wen-Ming Liang
Yu-Xuan Ji
Jing Xiao
Inga Truskauskaitė
Adomas Hendrixson
Zhen-Min Bai
Osvaldas Ruksenas
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17687-8

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Springer Medicine

Respiratory patterns and physical fitness in healthy adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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