Conclusions
In summary, the results from this study provide evidence that
ventilatory patterns differ between cycle ergometry and treadmill
running. The most compelling of this evidence is that subjects
appeared to breath at a higher lung volume during maximal exercise
while cycling compared to running. It is possible that posture
during exercise is responsible for this difference as hip flexion may
force the diaphragm further up into the thoracic cavity. This is supported
by the significantly larger EILV at rest while on the cycle
ergometer. Ventilatory capacity is greater during maximal cycling
compared to running reflecting an increase in EILV. Future work
should focus on further explaining potential differences in ventilatory
capacity between running and cycling, as well as, exploring
the role posture plays in determining the lung volume at which
ventilation takes place.