Diaphragm mechanics, autonomic regulation and chemoreceptor plasticity: a mechanistic complement to the VST Position Paper

This position paper proposes a mechanistic framework articulating three underexplored dimensions of ventilatory system influence on endurance performance: the dual vascular pump function of the diaphragm and its consequences on autonomic regulation and HRV, the neurological cascade triggered by chemoreceptor set-point miscalibration in chronic hyperventilators, and the hypothesis of chemoreceptor recalibration through individualised nasal breathing training. Established data are explicitly distinguished from mechanistically plausible interpretations and original proposals requiring experimental validation. Field data from the VST Research Series (9 published or submitted studies, 16 elite cyclists, 48-week longitudinal follow-up) are presented as convergent evidence. This document constitutes the mechanistic complement to the VST Position Paper (Zenodo DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19327833)