• Joaquin U Gonzales and Barry W Scheuermann.
• Cardiopulmonary and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
• Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Mar 1;38(3):472-9.

PurposeThe purpose of the present study was to determine whether gender differences are present in the fatigability of the inspiratory muscles of humans. Based on evidence for a gender difference in the oxygen cost of breathing, we hypothesized that females would result in a greater magnitude and/or faster rate of inspiratory muscle fatigue than males.MethodsEleven females and males (N = 22) performed resistive breathing at a target pressure of 70% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax). Rate of inspiratory muscle fatigue was calculated from measures of PImax taken every 2 min during resistive breathing, and recovery of inspiratory muscle strength was assessed up to 45 min following task failure.ResultsResting PImax was found to be lower for females than males (F:137.0 +/- 7.6 cm H2O; M:172.5 +/- 9.8 cm H2O, mean +/- SE, P H2O.min(-1); M: -2.9 +/- 0.3 cm H2O.min(-1); P ConclusionThe results provide some evidence that the fatigability of the inspiratory muscles is different between genders. Females demonstrated a slower rate of fatigue during resistive breathing than males, a finding independent of muscle strength.

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