Ventilatory responses to exercise performed below and above the first ventilatory threshold.

These experiments examined the changes in ventilation at the start and end of exercise. Six subjects walked on a treadmill at two work rates above and two below that corresponding to their first ventilatory thresholds, for three durations. The subjects also exercised at the lowest and highest work rates while inspiring oxygen-enriched air. The group mean results showed that the abrupt increases in ventilation at the start of exercises at work rates above that of the first ventilatory threshold were greater than those below, but did not vary with duration or work rate either above or below. The abrupt falls in ventilation at the end of the exercises were less than the increases at the start. At work rates above that of the first ventilatory threshold, increases in work rate and duration were found to reduce the abrupt falls. The time constants of exponential curves fitted to the post-exercise declines in ventilation increased with work rate, and also with duration for work rates above that of the first ventilatory threshold. Finally, breathing oxygen enriched air did not alter any of these variables. These findings were interpreted as showing that the fast neural exercise drive is enhanced at work rates above that of the first ventilatory threshold, and becomes progressively less as exercise continues, a process exaggerated at higher work rates. In addition, the time course of the decline in ventilation following exercise, although altered by work rate and duration, was independent of the level of oxygenation.