Ventilatory pattern during handgrip on normal man.
We studied the ventilatory response to an isometric handgrip (50% maximum voluntary contraction) in 7 young normal subjects. VE increased significantly during isometric contraction due to increases in Vt/Ti (the mean inspiratory flow) and Ti/Ttot (the timing component of ventilation). The increase in Vt/Ti is greater than that in Ti/Ttot; thus, the contribution of the neural inspiratory drive is predominant in increasing the pulmonary ventilation during a handgrip.