Impact of Weekly Swimming Training Distance on the Ergogenicity of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Well-Trained Youth Swimmers

Effects of inspiratory muscle training on lung function parameter in swimmers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on lung function parameters (MIP, MEP, FEV1, and FVC) between both elite and non-elite swimmers.

Methods

We searched for controlled clinical trials (CCT) and prospective longitudinal studies (PLS) in elite and non-elite swimmers following an inspiratory muscle training (IMT) protocol with a standardized device, published between 2012 and 2023. The databases used in the search were PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Springer, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar. The primary outcome assessed was the impact of IMT on lung function parameters, including MIP, MEP, FEV1, and FVC.

Results

We selected 13 articles involving 277 subjects aged 11-21 years, with 61.4% being male, and 84.6% being elite swimmers. The most commonly used IMT device was the PowerBreathe®, prescribed for 3-12 weeks, 1-2 sessions per day, 3-6 times per week, with 30 repetitions, starting at 50% of MIP and progressing up to 80%. The meta-analysis showed that IMT was associated with a higher MIP (MD = 29.35 cmH2O, 95% CI: 13.04-45.65 cmH2O, p < 0.01) without affecting FEV1 and FVC.

Conclusion

The swimmers that used IMT improved muscle strength, specifically MIP, without changes in MEP, FEV1, and FVC.

Respiratory muscle training induces additional stress and training load in well-trained triathletes-randomized controlled trial

Background: Respiratory muscle training (RMT) has been investigated in the context of improved athletic performance and pulmonary function. However, psychophysiological costs of RMT remain understudied. Voluntary isocapnic hyperpnoea (VIH) and inspiratory pressure threshold loading (IPTL) are widely applied RMT methods. The main purposes of this study were to assess whether RMT induces additional load on well-trained triathletes and determine differences in RMT-induced load between sexes and applied methods. Materials and Methods: 16 well-trained triathletes (n = 16, 56% males) underwent 6 weeks of VIH or IPTL program with progressive overload. Blood markers, subjective measures, cardiac indices, near-infrared spectroscopy indices, inspiratory muscle fatigue, and RMT-induced training load were monitored pre-, in and post-sessions. We used multiple ANOVA to investigate effects of sex, training method, and time on measured parameters. Results: There were significant interactions for acid-base balance (p = 0.04 for sex, p < 0.001 for method), partial carbon dioxide pressure (p = 0.03 for sex, p < 0.001 for method), bicarbonate (p = 0.01 for method), lactate (p < 0.001 for method), RMT-induced training load (p = 0.001 for method for single session, p = 0.03 for method per week), average heart rate (p = 0.03 for sex), maximum heart rate (p = 0.02 for sex), intercostales muscle oxygenation (p = 0.007 for testing week), and intercostales muscle oxygenation recovery (p = 0.003 for testing week and p = 0.007 for method). Conclusion: We found that RMT induced additional load in well-trained triathletes. Elicited changes in monitored variables depend on sex and training method. VIH significantly increased subjective training load measures. IPTL was associated with disbalance in blood gasometry, increase in lactate, and reports of headaches and dizziness. Both methods should be applied with consideration in high-performance settings.

Inspiratory Muscle Rehabilitation Training in Pediatrics: What Is the Evidence?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is typically used for reducing respiratory symptoms and improving fitness and quality of life for patients with chronic lung disease. However, it is rarely prescribed and may be underused in pediatric conditions. Pulmonary rehabilitation can include inspiratory muscle training that improves the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the current literature related to inspiratory muscle rehabilitation training (IMRT) in healthy and diseased pediatric populations. This review highlights the different methods of IMRT and their effects on respiratory musculature in children. Available literature demonstrates that IMRT can improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance, perceived dyspnea and exertion, maximum voluntary ventilation, and exercise performance in the pediatric population. These mechanistic changes help explain improvements in symptomology and clinical outcomes with IMRT and highlight our evolving understanding of the role of IMRT in pediatric patients. There remains considerable heterogeneity in the literature related to the type of training utilized, training protocols, duration of the training, use of control versus placebo, and reported outcome measures. There is a need to test and refine different IMRT protocols, conduct larger randomized controlled trials, and include patient-centered clinical outcomes to help improve the evidence base and support the use of IMRT in patient care.

Time to Move Beyond a "One-Size Fits All" Approach to Inspiratory Muscle Training

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been studied as a rehabilitation tool and ergogenic aid in clinical, athletic, and healthy populations. This technique aims to improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance, which has been seen to enhance respiratory pressure generation, respiratory muscle weakness, exercise capacity, and quality of life. However, the effects of IMT have been discrepant between populations, with some studies showing improvements with IMT and others not. This may be due to the use of standardized IMT protocols which are uniformly applied to all study participants without considering individual characteristics and training needs. As such, we suggest that research on IMT veer away from a standardized, one-size-fits-all intervention, and instead utilize specific IMT training protocols. In particular, a more personalized approach to an individual's training prescription based upon goals, needs, and desired outcomes of the patient or athlete. In order for the coach or practitioner to adjust and personalize a given IMT prescription for an individual, factors, such as frequency, duration, and modality will be influenced, thus inevitably affecting overall training load and adaptations for a projected outcome. Therefore, by integrating specific methods based on optimization, periodization, and personalization, further studies may overcome previous discrepancies within IMT research.

Inspiratory muscle training improves the swimming performance of competitive young male sprint swimmers

BACKGROUND

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) stimulates the strengthening of the respiratory muscles by placing a resistance to the entry of air into the lung. The objective was to observe the effect of IMT on swimming performance, and its relationship with inspiratory strength and lung function.

METHODS

Fifteen male swimmers (age=15.1±1.1 years) were divided into an experimental group (EG; N.=9) and a sham control group (SCG; N.=6). Lung flows/volumes using spirometry, dynamic inspiratory strength (S-Index), maximum inspiratory flow (MIF), and swimming tests (50-m, 100-m and 200-m) were measured before and after a four-week aerobic swimming training program (R1-R2) and IMT. An initial load at 50% and 15% of S-Index was adjusted for EG and SCG respectively. Only the EG increased the initial load by 5% each week.

RESULTS

The S-Index and MIF were only increased in the EG after IMT (∆S-Index=18.0±8.8 cmH<inf>2</inf>O and ∆MIF=0.7±0.33 L·min^-1; P<0.05). The same occurred for FVC (∆=0.3±0.2 l), and MVV (∆=6.9±3.6 l·min^-1) (P<0.05). For swimming performances, the EG swimming times decreased significantly respect to CG for 50-m (∆<inf>EG</inf>=-1.2±0.3 s vs. ∆<inf>CG</inf>=-0.1±0.2 s), 100-m (∆<inf>EG</inf>=-2.9±1 s vs. ∆<inf>CG</inf>=-0.7±0.5 s) and 200-m (∆<inf>EG</inf>=-7.3±2.8 s vs. ∆<inf>CG</inf>=-2.0±1 s) with P<0.05. Finally, the S-Index and MIF had a negative correlation with swimming performances for 50-m (S-Index, r=-0.72; MIF, r=-0.70) and 100-m (S-Index, r=-0.65; MIF, r=-0.62) with P<0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

A short-period IMT increases the maximum S-Index, ventilation and MIF which positively influence the swimming performance of young swimmers.

Inspiratory muscle training at sea level improves the strength of inspiratory muscles during load carriage in cold-hypoxia

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and functional IMT (IMT_F: exercise-specific IMT activities) has been unsuccessful in reducing respiratory muscle fatigue following load carriage. IMT_F did not include load carriage specific exercises. Fifteen participants split into two groups (training and control) walked 6 km loaded (18.2 kg) at speeds representing ∼50%V̇O_2max in cold-hypoxia. The walk was completed at baseline; post 4 weeks IMT and 4 weeks IMT_F (five exercises engaging core muscles, three involved load). The training group completed IMT and IMT_F at a higher maximal inspiratory pressure (P_imax) than controls. Improvements in P_imax were greater in the training group post-IMT (20.4%, p  = .025) and post-IMT_F (29.1%, p  = .050) compared to controls. Respiratory muscle fatigue was unchanged (p  = .643). No other physiological or subjective measures were improved by IMT or IMT_F. Both IMT and IMT_F increased the strength of respiratory muscles pre-and-post a 6 km loaded walk in cold-hypoxia. Practitioner Summary: To explore the interaction between inspiratory muscle training (IMT), load carriage and environment, this study investigated 4 weeks IMT and 4 weeks functional IMT on respiratory muscle strength and fatigue. Functional IMT improved inspiratory muscle strength pre-and-post a loaded walk in cold-hypoxia but had no more effect than IMT alone. Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; BF: breathing frequency; CON: control group; EELV: end-expiratory lung volume; EXP: experimental group; FEV₁: forced expiratory volume in one second; FiO₂: fraction of inspired oxygen; FVC: forced vital capacity; HR: heart rate; IMT: inspiratory muscle training; IMT_F: functional inspiratory muscle training; P_emax: maximal expiratory pressure; P_imax: maximal inspiratory pressure; RMF: respiratory muscle fatigue; RPE: rate of perceived exertion; RWU: respiratory muscle warm-up; SaO₂: arterial oxygen saturation; SpO₂: peripheral oxygen saturation; V̇E: minute ventilation; V̇O₂: rate of oxygen uptake.

Inspiration for the Future: The Role of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited, multi-system, life-limiting disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function, which accounts for the majority of CF-related morbidity and mortality. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been proposed as a rehabilitative strategy to treat respiratory impairments associated with CF. However, despite evidence of therapeutic benefits in healthy and other clinical populations, the routine application of IMT in CF can neither be supported nor refuted due to the paucity of methodologically rigorous research. Specifically, the interpretation of available studies regarding the efficacy of IMT in CF is hampered by methodological threats to internal and external validity. As such, it is important to highlight the inherent risk of bias that differences in patient characteristics, IMT protocols, and outcome measurements present when synthesizing this literature prior to making final clinical judgments. Future studies are required to identify the characteristics of individuals who may respond to IMT and determine whether the controlled application of IMT can elicit meaningful improvements in physiological and patient-centered clinical outcomes. Given the equivocal evidence regarding its efficacy, IMT should be utilized on a case-by-case basis with sound clinical reasoning, rather than simply dismissed, until a rigorous evidence-based consensus has been reached.