The respiratory muscles are those responsible for pulmonary ventilation and differ in inspiratory and expiratory muscles.
While the inspiratory ones are always active, ie they contract even in basal conditions (external diaphragm and intercostals), the expiratory ones (mainly internal intercostals, rectum, transversal, etc.) are used only in conditions of increased ventilation (mainly due to metabolic commitment caused by muscular effort); in the latter condition, an increase in the inspiratory effort also occurs. In basal conditions instead, the expiratory muscles are not recruited and the air is expelled thanks to the elastic return of the structures / tissues actively involved in inspiration.
Lung ventilation is a mechanism that is independent of individual control and is exercised independently; nevertheless, the process can be modified by voluntary interventions such as increased frequency and inspiratory and / or expiratory depth. With regard to this last topic, it is better to specify that the control of inspiratory and expiratory movements depends above all on individual mastery and sensitivity, but can also be trained with respiratory gymnastics protocols.
Some oriental disciplines (such as yoga) have placed ventilation at the base of their techniques for thousands of years, which is why they have developed extremely effective training methods. At the same time, for some years a machine has been patented that can actively involve the forced ventilation mechanism, aimed at improving respiratory fitness.
The increase in joint mobility of the involved bone segments, ventilatory muscle power and elongation capacity of the same, are fundamental to the increase in the aforementioned respiratory function. Many readers will ask, "Why should I improve my respiratory fitness?"
First of all, we exclude all cases of COPD (Bronchus Pneumopathies Chronic Obstructive) from the case history and we start from the assumption that, by improving the aforementioned parameter, fatigue decreases during a motor performance. In fact, whenever the frequency and depth of breathing are increased (understood as volumes of displaced air), a further physical effort is made. It goes without saying that with increasing effectiveness and efficiency the potential corresponds to a reduction in general fatigue; there is no rain on this!
On the other hand, most adaptations occur as a result of prolonged aerobic exercise. Practically, athletes who train respiratory fitness with exercises or machines always have a minor response, since they start from a higher performance base than normal.
In this case, some studies have been carried out concerning the use of the machinery which we have already discussed in certain types of athletes. To be sure, the results are different differently interpreted and emphasized based on the popular source, and this is never an indication of transparency and clarity. Nonetheless, it is undeniable that this practice can only PLAY to the vital biomechanics. It remains to be seen if it is worth using it on athletes, since the improvements could affect or not the final performance based on the extent of the improvement obtained; after all, let's not forget that athletes often play two sessions a day, in conditions of perfect normality. Adding two or three more a week may NOT be easily sustainable.
Moreover, for the sedentary, who instead enjoy excellent improvements thanks to the use of both the machine and the practice of gymnastics ...
Would it really be more fruitful to train respiratory fitness individually, rather than undertake a complete physical exercise protocol (aerobic and anaerobic)? I personally don't think so.
Ultimately, the training of the power of the respiratory muscles, their elasticity and joint mobility, are desirable characteristics that should be emphasized especially in those sports with performances that subordinate them in a DIRECT manner; moreover, the use of technologically advanced (and expensive!) machinery should represent the complement of natural respiratory gymnastics, not certainly its replacement. Some activities that could benefit from such practices thanks to the increase of respiratory fitness are: underwater apnea and spearfishing, synchronized swimming, underwater rugby, underwater hockey, biathlon specialties of underwater shooting, etc.
