The effects of a respiratory warm-up on the physical capacity and ventilatory response in paraplegic individuals

The effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up prior to inspiratory muscle training during pulmonary rehabilitation in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND

While a whole-body warm-up may not adequately prepare the inspiratory muscles for exercise, inspiratory warm-up is an effective approach in preparing the inspiratory muscles for exertion.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up performed prior to inspiratory muscle training (IMT) during pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inspiratory muscle weakness.

METHODS

Pulmonary function tests, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), 6-minute walk test distance (6MWD), modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale(mMRC), St. George's respiratory questionnaire and the 36-item short-form health survey were evaluated. Both groups performed IMT during PR for 8 weeks. The warm-up group (n = 15), in addition to the standard IMT group (n = 15), performed an inspiratory muscle warm-up protocol before each IMT session.

RESULTS

At the end of the 8-week intervention, improvements in dyspnea (mMRC in score, p =0.033, effect size =0.76); exercise capacity (6MWD in meters, p =0.001, effect size =1.30); pulmonary function [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in %predicted, p =0.006, effect size =1.10]; and inspiratory muscle strength (MIP in cmH2O, p =0.001, effect siz e = 1.35) were significantly greater in the warm-up group. Moreover, there were significant improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) sub-scores after the training in both groups (p <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated improvements in both groups, surpassing or closely approaching the established minimal clinically important difference values for the respective outcomes. Performing a warm-up for inspiratory muscles before IMT boosts benefits for pulmonary function, inspiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, dyspnea, and HRQoL in subjects with moderate-to-severe COPD and inspiratory muscle weakness.

Complex network model indicates a positive effect of inspiratory muscles pre-activation on performance parameters in a judo match

This study investigated the effects of inspiratory muscle pre-activation (IM_PA) on the interactions among the technical-tactical, physical, physiological, and psychophysiological parameters in a simulated judo match, based on the centrality metrics by complex network model. Ten male athletes performed 4 experimental sessions. Firstly, anthropometric measurements, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and global strenght of the inspiratory muscles were determined. In the following days, all athletes performed four-minute video-recorded judo matches, under three conditions: without IM_PA (CON), after IM_PA at 15% (IM_PA15), and at 40% (IM_PA40) of MIP using an exerciser device. Blood lactate, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were monitored, and the technical-tactical parameters during the match were related to offensive actions and the time-motion. Based on the complex network, graphs were constructed for each scenario (CON, IM_PA15, and IM_PA40) to investigate the Degree and Pagerank centrality metrics. IM_PA40 increased the connectivity of the physical and technical-tactical parameters in complex network and highlighted the combat frequency and average combat time in top-five ranked nodes. IM_PA15 also favoured the interactions among the psychophysiological, physical, and physiological parameters. Our results suggest the positive effects of the IM_PA, indicating this strategy to prepare the organism (IM_PA15) and to improve performance (IM_PA40) in judo match.

Effect of inspiratory muscle warm-up on submaximal rowing performance

Performing inspiratory muscle warm-up might increase exercise performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of inspiratory muscle warm-up to submaximal rowing performance and to find if there is an effect on lactic acid accumulation and breathing parameters. Ten competitive male rowers aged between 19 and 27 years (age, 23.1 ± 3.8 years; height, 188.1 ± 6.3 cm; body mass, 85.6 ± 6.6 kg) were tested 3 times. During the first visit, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) assessment and the incremental rowing test were performed to measure maximal oxygen consumption and maximal aerobic power (Pamax). A submaximal intensity (90% Pamax) rowing test was performed twice with the standard rowing warm-up as test 1 and with the standard rowing warm-up and specific inspiratory muscle warm-up as test 2. During the 2 experimental tests, distance, duration, heart rate, breathing frequency, ventilation, peak oxygen consumption, and blood lactate concentration were measured. The only value that showed a significant difference between the test 1 and test 2 was breathing frequency (52.2 ± 6.8 vs. 53.1 ± 6.8, respectively). Heart rate and ventilation showed a tendency to decrease and increase, respectively, after the inspiratory muscle warm-up (p < 0.1). Despite some changes in respiratory parameters, the use of 40% MIP intensity warm-up is not suggested if the mean intensity of the competition is at submaximal level (at approximately 90% maximal oxygen consumption). In conclusion, the warm-up protocol of the respiratory muscles used in this study does not have a significant influence on submaximal endurance performance in highly trained male rowers.