Exercise and the Oxygen Cascade: From the Lungs to the Muscle

The oxygen transport cascade is a fundamental physiological process where oxygen is transferred from the lungs to muscle mitochondria, crucial for ATP production during physical activity. This system, traditionally studied in the context of athletic performance, now shows significant implications for general health. The cascade includes oxygen uptake at the lungs, its transport via the cardiovascular system, and finally, diffusion into muscles. These adaptive phases dynamically adjust to increased exercise demands. However, individual differences such as age, sex, and training status, affect the efficiency of oxygen delivery and utilization. Moreover, conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure can disrupt this cascade at any step, dramatically reducing physical capability and underscoring the need for detailed understanding across different populations and conditions.

This Research Topic aims to deepen the comprehension of the oxygen transport cascade and its adaptive responses to exercise across different physiological states and populations. The focus is on exploring how biological and physiological variations influence the components of the cascade and affect overall efficiency.

In order to enhance the breadth of knowledge in this area, contributions should cover a diverse range of themes related to the oxygen cascade during exercise, including but not limited to:
• Biological influences such as sex and age on respiratory capacity, cardiovascular efficiency, and muscle oxygenation.
• Oxygen uptake kinetics analysis for different fitness levels to determine how rapidly and efficiently oxygen demands are met.
• Comparative effects of aerobic versus resistance training on adaptations in the oxygen transport cascade.
• Development of therapeutic approaches to improve oxygen transport and utilization in clinical populations with compromised cardiopulmonary functions, such as COPD or heart failure patients.
• Strategies for tailoring exercise and rehabilitation programs to optimize oxygen delivery and support health and performance.

We welcome submissions of various types of articles, particularly original research and reviews, to contribute to this collection.

Keywords: oxygen transport cascase, exercise, physiology, muscle oxygen utilization, cardiopulmonary function, adaptive response

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.