Eichenberger PA, et al. - Given that there might be a relation between beneficial effects of exercise training for asthmatics and repetitive airway stretching, and a bout of volitional hyperpnea (HYP) training is known to cause an acute FEV₁ decline in healthy subjects, researchers investigated if these changes were more pronounced in asthmatics, possibly putting them at risk with HYP training. Participants were nine patients with mild-moderate asthma (confirmed by mannitol challenge) and 11 healthy subjects. Using warm and humid air, these participants performed six 5-min bouts (with 6-min breaks; HYP1) and one 30-min bout (HYP2) of normocapnic HYP at 60% of maximal voluntary ventilation. Findings revealed no relevant bronchoconstriction was induced by a bout of HYP. Also, no clinically relevant changes in lung function and airway resistance were seen. These changes did not differ from responses in healthy individuals. Based on these findings, it would be safe to test HYP training as an airway-specific exercise training alternative (or add-on) modality to regular aerobic exercise training.