Method for enhanced performance training

• US 20070179350A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary Nadeau
• Original Assignee: Gary Nadeau
• Inventors: Nadeau, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/205 P-CO2, i.e. partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/43 Composition of exhaled air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases

Abstract

A method for enhanced exercise training or performance utilizing intentional controlled tachypnea and somatic sensory alkalosis biofeedback training to maintain an essentially non-acidic state during exercise. A trainee is instructed to decrease measured transcutaneous CO₂ levels by increased ventilation and to correlate measured transcutaneous CO₂ levels with subjective somatic symptoms. Studies under exercise conditions measure the intensity of exercise correlating to an onset in blood lactate accumulation in the trainee and such level of intensity is in turn correlated with a predetermined heart rate. The trainee is then instructed to use heart rate as a guide to the need for increased ventilation to lower blood CO₂. In another embodiment, the method of the instant invention utilizes intentional controlled tachypnea to increase maximum breath holding time.

Claims

1. A method for enhanced transcutaneous carbon dioxide (TCO₂) control exercise training of a trainee, comprising the steps of:

a) performing a first exercise training session during which the trainee is monitored with at least a cardiovascular characteristic monitor, a metabolic characteristic monitor, and a TCO₂ monitor, further comprising the steps of;

1) recording the TCO₂ of the trainee at rest, thereby establishing a first baseline TCO₂ value;

2) initiating exercise of the trainee at progressively increasing intensity, while allowing the trainee to view the TCO₂ monitor, both monitoring and recording, (i) at least one primary cardiovascular characteristic value reflecting exercise intensity, (ii) at least one primary metabolic characteristic value reflecting blood acid-base balance, and (iii) at least one TCO₂ value;

at least at a first and a second time;

3) continuing to progressively increase the exercise intensity of the trainee, as measured by the primary cardiovascular characteristic value, to a point of maximum effort and both monitoring and recording a measured maximum effort cardiovascular characteristic value reflecting the primary cardiovascular characteristic value at the point of maximum effort;

4) determining a maximum cardiovascular characteristic value reflecting exercise intensity selected from one of the group of values consisting of (i) an age determined formula based maximum heart rate value for the trainee and (ii) the recorded measured maximum effort cardiovascular characteristic value;

5) correlating the at least one primary cardiovascular characteristic value with the at least one metabolic characteristic value for each of the at least first and second times;

6) determining, by reference to a predetermined reference criteria, a lactate threshold (LT) value selected from a group of values consisting of the at least one primary metabolic characteristic value;

7) determining the recorded primary cardiovascular characteristic value at the LT value;

8) calculating a target cardiovascular characteristic value, less by a predetermined measure, than the recorded primary cardiovascular characteristic value at the LT value; and

9) resting the trainee for a time sufficient to attain a training baseline TCO₂ value not greater than 110% of the first baseline TCO₂; and

b) performing at least one secondary exercise training session during which the trainee is monitored with at least a cardiovascular characteristic monitor and a TCO₂ monitor, further comprising the steps of;

1) initiating exercise of the trainee at progressively increasing intensity, as measured by the primary cardiovascular characteristic value and monitoring and recording TCO₂ values while allowing the trainee to view the TCO₂ monitor, to a steady state exercise intensity at which the trainee attains the target cardiovascular characteristic value;

2) identifying a sensed somatic state by instructing the trainee to increase ventilation to reduce the monitored and recorded TCO₂ values to an at least one predetermined TCO₂ value, while instructing the trainee to identify and correlate at least one physiologic sensation with the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value;

3) resting the trainee for a time sufficient to attain the training baseline TCO₂ value; and

c) repeating the secondary exercise training session until the trainee is able to identify the sensed somatic state without viewing the TCO₂ monitor;

d) verifying that the identification of the sensed somatic state by the trainee correlates to within a first predetermined range above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value;

1) resting the trainee for a time sufficient to attain the training baseline TCO₂ value; and

e) performing at least one tertiary exercise training session during which the trainee is monitored with at least a cardiovascular characteristic monitor and a TCO₂ monitor, further comprising the steps of;

1) initiating exercise of the trainee at progressively increasing intensity, as measured by the primary cardiovascular characteristic value, while not allowing the trainee to view the TCO₂ monitor;

2) monitoring the primary cardiovascular characteristic value;

3) continuing to progressively increase the exercise intensity of the trainee to a point at which the trainee attains the target cardiovascular characteristic value;

4) instructing the trainee to adjust ventilation to achieve an at least one predetermined TCO₂ value based on the perception of the sensed somatic state; and

4) verifying that the trainee has adjusted ventilation so as to attain at least one of the predetermined TCO₂ values within a second predetermined range above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cardiovascular characteristic monitor further includes at least a heart rate monitor.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the cardiovascular characteristic monitor further includes at least a pulse oximeter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metabolic characteristic monitor further comprises at least one laboratory measurement value derived from a laboratory measurement performed on a quantity of blood selected from the group of venous blood and capillary blood.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one laboratory measurement value includes at least one laboratory measurement value selected from a group of consisting of measurement of venous or capillary lactate, venous or capillary CO₂ (bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻

)), and venous or capillary pH values.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein exercise at progressively increasing intensity further comprises at least a first level and a second level of exercise intensity performed at a predetermined exercise intensity for a predetermined period of time.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one primary cardiovascular characteristic value reflecting exercise intensity is heart rate.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one primary metabolic characteristic value reflecting acid base balance is an acid base balance value selected from the group of laboratory measurement values selected from the group consisting of venous or capillary lactate, venous or capillary CO₂ (HCO₃), and venous or capillary pH values.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the age determined formula based maximum heart rate value is calculated by subtracting an age of the trainee in years from 220.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined measurement criteria determining the LT value is further determined as a first occurring in time venous lactate value having a value greater than 2.0 mmol/l during exercise of progressively increasing intensity.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined measurement criteria determining the LT value is further determined as a first occurring in time primary metabolic characteristic value selected from the group of values reflecting a rise in value of at least 50% over baseline values and a value of blood lactate greater than 2.0 mmol/l, and a laboratory lactate level greater than the standardized normal values for the assay, during exercise of progressively increasing intensity.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the target cardiovascular characteristic value is equal to or more than 0.95 of the primary cardiovascular value at the LT value.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the target cardiovascular characteristic value is equal to or more than 0.90 of the primary cardiovascular value at the LT Value.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the target cardiovascular characteristic value is equal to or more than 0.80 of the primary cardiovascular value at the LT Value.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is equal to or more than 95% of the first baseline TCO₂ value.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is equal to or more than 90% of the first baseline TCO₂ value.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is equal to or more than 80% of the first baseline TCO₂ value.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is equal to or more than 70% of the first baseline TCO₂ value.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined range above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is a range of less than or equal to 2 mmHg above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined range above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is a range of less than or equal to 5 mmHg above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second predetermined range above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is a range of less than or equal to 2 mmHg above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second predetermined range above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value is a range of less than or equal to 5 mmHg above and below the at least one predetermined TCO₂ value.

23. A controlled breathing method for increasing the alkaline reserve of an individual, comprising the steps of:

1) measuring a baseline respiratory status characteristic value prior to exercise;

2) exercising in a progressively graded manner;

3) measuring and recording at least one acid-base characteristic value;

4) measuring and recording at least one exercising respiratory status characteristic value;

5) measuring and recording at least one cardiovascular characteristic;

6) determining an LT respiratory characteristic value representing the at least one respiratory status characteristic value selected from the group of values reflecting a rise in value of at least 50% over baseline values and a value of blood lactate greater than 2.0 mmol/l, and a laboratory lactate level greater than the standardized normal values for the assay, during exercise of progressively increasing intensity;

7) determining an LT cardiovascular characteristic value representing the cardiovascular characteristic value at the point at which measurement of the acid-base characteristic value indicates a non-linear accumulation of lactic acid;

8) determining a target cardiovascular characteristic value that is less than the LT cardiovascular characteristic value by a predetermined amount;

9) increasing ventilation at a level of exercise intensity producing the target cardiovascular characteristic value to achieve a training respiratory characteristic value that is less than the baseline respiratory status characteristic value.

24. A breathing technique for increasing the alkaline reserve of an individual, comprising the steps of:

1) monitoring a respiratory excretion level of carbon dioxide by the individual during ventilation;

2) increasing ventilation to increase the respiratory excretion level of carbon dioxide;

3) monitoring the respiratory excretion level of carbon dioxide concurrent with increased ventilation;

4) modulating ventilation to produce a predetermined target respiratory excretion level of carbon dioxide as indicated by the monitored respiratory excretion level.

25. The technique according to claim 24, wherein the steps of monitoring a respiratory excretion level of carbon dioxide further comprise the step of monitoring at least one TCO₂ level.

26. A technique for teaching controlled breathing for maximizing breath holding time of an individual, comprising the steps of:

1) determining at least one normal exercise heart rate value as measured during predetermined exercise;

2) resting for a predetermined time;

3) monitoring at least one TCO₂ level;

4) exercising at an intensity sufficient to produce the normal exercise heart rate;

5) increasing ventilation sufficient to lower the at least one TCO₂ level to a predetermined TCO₂ level;

6) suspending ventilation for a maximum amount of time physiologically possible while maintaining exercise at the intensity sufficient to produce the normal exercise heart rate; and

7) repeating steps two through six above, decreasing with each repetition the predetermined TCO₂ level achieved by increasing ventilation, until a point is reached at which additional decreases in the predetermined TCO₂ level achieved by increasing ventilation do not increase the time possible to suspend ventilation for the maximum amount of time physiologically possible while maintaining exercise at the intensity sufficient to produce the normal exercise heart rate.