Abstract des Autors

In humans, the respiratory system has long been regarded as adequate in healthy humans exercising at sea level, although respiratory limitation of exercise performance has been recognized in some athletic mammals. In recent years, the respiratory system has attracted attention as a potential limiting factor in human performance. This brief review examines the available literature in both humans and animals in an attempt to explain the mechanisms by which energetics, muscle fatigue, mechanical limitation, respiratory drives, and gas exchange could limit exercise performance in highly trained humans. The data suggest that pulmonary constraint of performance is likely, particularly during short-term near maximal exercise. Verf.-Referat