Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and Breathing in Neuromuscular Disease

AIH entails continuous breathing as the level of oxygen in the air is decreased, then returned to normal. Participants will alternate between breathing normal air and breathing hypoxic air (air that has less oxygen). Participants will complete a single 45 minute session of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH). Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure. The intervals will last 1 minute each.

Participants will complete the sham acute intermittent hypoxia, consisting of a single 45 minute session of breathing air with normal oxygen levels. All aspects of this procedure will otherwise be the same as for the AIH procedure. Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure.