Citation

Lindsay A, Bernard A, Davidson SM, Redmond DP, Chiew YS, Pretty C, Chase JG, Shaw GM, Gieseg SP, Draper N. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness 2014; 56(4): 450-457.

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand - N.Draper@derby.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Edizioni Minerva Medica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25503707

Abstract

Rugby is a highly popular team contact sport associated with high injury rates. Specifically, there is a chance of inducing internal lung injuries as a result of the physical nature of the game. Such injuries are only identified with the use of specific invasive protocols or equipment. This study presents a model--based method to assess respiratory mechanics of N=11 rugby players that underwent a low intensity experimental mechanical ventilation (MV) test before and after a rugby game. Participants were connected to a ventilator via a facemask and their respiratory mechanics estimated using a time--varying elastance model. All participants had a respiratory elastance <10 cmH2O/L with no significant difference observed between pre and post--game respiratory mechanics (P>0.05). Model--based respiratory mechanics estimation has been used widely in the treatment of the critically ill in intensive care. However, the application of a ventilator to assess the respiratory mechanics of healthy human beings is limited. This is the first study to conceptualize the assessment of respiratory mechanics in healthy athletes as a means to monitor post exercise stress and therefore manage recovery.

Language: en