Limitation of the Ventilatory Response to Exercise in the Master Athlete

It is generally accepted that the ventilatory system is not a limiting factor in physical exercise in terms of performance or exercise tolerance in healthy subjects. The ventilatory system would be oversized in relation to the stresses it has to cope with, even during maximum intensity exercise. However, some highly trained endurance athletes may be exceptions to this rule. A limitation of the expiratory flow is indeed sometimes found in these athletes, whose maximum values of ventilation can confront the mechanical limits of their ventilatory system. This phenomenon could be accentuated in elderly athletes (known as "master athletes") under the effect of structural and functional pulmonary alterations that accompany aging. Our hypothesis : What is the prevalence of exercise expiratory flow limitation in the master athlete and does it cause a decrease in physical performance via an acceleration of locomotor muscle fatigue?