Introduction to one of KinX Learning's new eBooks on the kinesiology of exercise - The Respiratory System.
This volume is a first for a book on strength training for the respiratory system and specific strength training exercises. Most often the respiratory system, more specifically, the inspiratory and expiratory muscles, are not thought to be trainable except through aerobic type activities.
This, however, is only partially true. The respiratory system muscles can also be strengthened with specific strength training exercises. When the results seen from aerobic training are compared to the development seen from strength training, it becomes obvious that aerobic training is only partially effective in improving the strength of the involved muscles.
Anyone who has been strength training for any length of time will be the first to tell you that the respiratory system is strongly involved if not during exercise execution, then afterward. For example, after a hard or long set, it takes a few minutes to “catch” your breath.
Sometimes even after one maximum repetition it takes a minute or so to bring the body of he back to a normal condition. However, even in regard to execution of an exercise, the breathing (respiration) and the muscles involved play a major role during execution.
When you become tired executing an exercise or performing a sport skill, respiratory muscle fatigue is usually the cause. This is especially true in aerobic activities where the general consensus has always been that fatigue was due to the cardiovascular system not being able to perform as needed for the task undertaken.
Today however, we know that this is not so. First to give out (fatigue) is the respiratory system. Thus the stronger your respiratory muscles are, the less prone you will be to early fatigue and the longer you will be able to continue an exercise. In addition, your recovery will be much faster.
In this volume an explanation and discussion of the role of the inspiratory and expiratory muscles will be presented. This will be followed with specific strength exercises to best develop these muscles with specialized resistance exercises.