Is there any relationship between peak flow and aerobic performance (assuming peak flow is within the normal range)?
I was under the impression that aerobic performance isn’t limited by pulmonary function, since you can reach VO2max and then voluntarily increase ventilation.
The reason this comes up is that I was in a respiratory teaching session today and the class was shocked that my peak flow was pretty average. They all know I’m the only serious athlete in the seminar group, and from a cardiovascular practical session they know that my morning RHR is 33-35, and I have athletic heart syndrome. So does my average peak flow really mean I’m unfit?
Assuming lung function to be normal, there is said to be no pulmonary limitation to aerobic performance. Justification for this statement rests with the fact that, while exercising at the maximum aerobic capacity (that is, when the rate of oxygen consumption cannot be further increased (VO2max)), it is possible to increase ventilation still more by voluntary effort. The main limiting factor is held to be a failure to match the rate at which muscle can consumes oxygen with the rate at which oxygenated blood can be delivered; in other words, the cardiac output.
However:
Not saying that if you have maxed out cardiac output (as most top athletes have), a higher peak flow rate might give you the slight edge, since you will have to breath less hard.
Peak Flow is a measure of how hard you can exhale in a single burst. It is a very crude measure of airway narrowing. As far as I know, it only a tool for aiding a doc and patient in assessing a patient’s (with lung disease) degree of bronchconstriction at a particular time. It is only meaningful if one’s peak flow is very low or is low for one’s normal. A mildly low usual Peak Flow might be an issue in a race under a mile run or a swim under 200 meters for most of us and under 400 m for elites, but for anything else, forget it.
Peak Flow is a measure of how hard you can exhale in a single burst. It is a very crude measure of airway narrowing. As far as I know, it only a tool for aiding a doc and patient in assessing a patient’s (with lung disease) degree of bronchconstriction at a particular time. It is only meaningful if one’s peak flow is very low or is low for one’s normal. A mildly low usual Peak Flow might be an issue in a race under a mile run or a swim under 200 meters for most of us and under 400 m for elites, but for anything else, forget it.
Technically (if you are following the standards) peak flow is a measure of the best of three single bursts. It is a somewhat crude measure of airway narrowing; however, from the studies that I’ve read peak flow is actually one of the best tools available to doctors to predict the current status of a patients asthma condition. The challenge, apparently, is convincing doctors of that fact. I attended a paper presentation on the current status of asthma treatment at the ATS annual meeting in San Diego a couple years ago; at that time, despite PFM use being a part of the recommended treatment plan for asthma, only 13% (IIRC) of asthma patients were prescribed PFMs. Those who were using PFMs exhibited a much lower incidence of asthma exacerbations than those who were not.
To address the original posters question; as far as I know there is no direct link between peak flow and athletic performance. I am aware of one study that evaluated the flow-volume relationship for highly trained cyclists (average VO2 max of about 70) that showed during exercise that athletes showed F-V curves similar to COPD patients at rest and that peak expiratory flow is a limiter in that it can induce diaphramatic fatigue at near-maximal efforts.
Counter to my original statement, as an n=2 study, the two athletes in my department at work (me and my boss) both have higher than predicted peak expiratory flow. My boss is a competitive swimmer (world class in his agegroup, 60-65). He maxes out every peak flow meter we’ve ever tested. I have to wonder if peak flow could be more of a limiter in swimming than other sports since breathing is obviously restricted underwater. I’m well above average, particularly on the bike.
FYI, I’m an engineer working at a company that makes products used in the treatment of asthma/COPD/etc. so I may be somewhat biased in my statements (particularly since I’ve done quite a bit of work on PFMs).
When i had my physical for my current job several years ago I did one of these tests. The lady set up the device and told me to blow into it, which I did and maxed it out. She said it must not be calibrated,she set up the device again, and I nuked it again. She recorded the reading, and asked me to do it again, same result, she recorded that. Thene she said i do not know what to do here, you are supposed to do three blows with each one showing an increase. She leaves the room comes back in with two Docs, all three watch me nuke the machine once again, one of the Doc’s looks at me, looks at her and says “never seen that before- I don’t think he has any problems” and walks out with the other doc.
ONe of the other problems is getting patients to use the PFT. This can be discouraging. But, if patients will us them, ramping up therapy when PFTs drop can prevent or lessen exacerbations.
My peak flow is well below average - 150l/min (on the European EN13826 scale) below what is expected for my height/age. Although not quite at the pointy end of the triathlon field, I’m normally place in the top 20% of a race (was 3rd in my ag at the Grand Columbian Iron Distance and 7th overall) and don’t feel my breathing is the limiter. I have been tested for asthma, but I don’t exhibit enough variability in my peak flow to have been classed as asthmatic.
