Dynamic Process of Pulmonary Data Analysis: From the Athlete Mouth to the Coach Hands

Abstract

The dynamic behaviour of pulmonary gas exchange variables (particularly oxygen uptake—VO₂) during and after exercise has been studied throughout different exercise modes [1]. However, from the time VO₂ is measured (usually at the mouth using a breath-by-breath gas analyser—e.g. K4b², Cosmed, Italy), until it is available for coaches (for training control and athletes evaluation), a complex system involving multi-level dynamics experimental steps must occur. Contrarily to this, the VO₂ data analysis is traditionally conducted considering only the smoothing and averaging procedures of the breath-by-breath VO₂ data itself. Therefore, extreme importance should be given to this dynamic process; otherwise the physiological significance of the data obtained could be misunderstood, not reflecting the truth of the physiological mechanisms underlined [2].