Effects of thoracic or abdominal strapping on exercise performance.

In eleven young healthy subjects, vital capacity was reduced by 30% by thoracic or abdominal strapping and the effects of this on maximal work capacity, ventilation and circulation were examined. During exercise as well as at rest, tidal volume and stroke volume were reduced and respiratory frequency and heart rate were increased with both types of strapping. Cardiac output appeared to be decreased. Thoracic strapping was slightly but significantly more impeding than abdominal strapping: residual volume, tidal volume and maximal work capacity were smaller. In both instances, the decrease in maximal performance was apparently due to ventilatory as well as circulatory limitation.