Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) in Athletes

Universität des Saarlandes40 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine weather well trained athletes benefit from inspiratory (respiratory) muscle training.

* Subject: The investigators intend to include 40 well trained runners, 18 years or older. * Design: Following lung function and exercise testing (incremental treadmill test to exhaustion, 5000m run time trial) participants will be randomly assigned to a verum or a control group. The verum group will train with a hand-held, commercially available pressure threshold loading device (POWERbreathe,UK). The control group will perform a sham-training with the same device. After six to eight weeks the the initial tests will be repeated. * Hypothesis: Inspiratory muscle training enhances performance on submaximal work loads and in the 5000m run time trial by changes in breathing pattern. Maximum oxygen uptake remains unchanged.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Running Endurance

Interventions

Respiratory muscle trainingBEHAVIORAL

Daily training with a handheld device (Pressure threshold loading). 1x50 breaths with adjustments (gradually increasing levels).

Sham trainingBEHAVIORAL

Sham training with same handheld device. 50 breaths daily on the lowest level

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * well trained runners Exclusion Criteria: * previous respiratory muscle training * cardiovascular diseases * impaired lung function

Locations (1)

Universität des Saarlands

Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

performance in the 500m run time trial

Time frame: 6-8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

maximum inspiratory pressure

Time frame: 6-8- weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.