Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIBC) is defined as a transient narrowing of the airways in response to exercise. EIBC is often a barrier to exercise; however, regular exercise can improve quality of life, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and number of symptom free days. Sprint interval exercise (SIE) has been proposed as an alternative to traditional moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICE). SIE involves four to six, 30 second bouts of supramaximal exercise separated by two to five minute recovery periods. SIE has been studied among overweight individuals, and those with moderate-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with success. SIE may limit bronchoconstriction associated with exercise in adults with EIBC due to the recovery periods.The proposed study will include adults, aged 18 to 45 years, with and without EIBC, confirmed by eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH). Participants will perform a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine VO2max and peak power output (PPO). Subsequent sessions will be randomized and exercise intensity will be determined based on results from the maximal exercise test. Participants will perform a SIE session (4x30s bouts at 7.5% of body weight resistance, each separated by 2 minutes at 30 Watts) and a MICE session (65% PPO for 12 minutes). During exercise sessions, ventilation will be monitored using gas analysis (Parvo Medics, USA) and peripheral blood flow will be monitored using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (Artinis, Netherlands). Lung function will be measured before and after exercise sessions. The proposed research is the first to examine the acute response of adults with EIBC to SIE. Results from this study will inform exercise prescription among this population.