ACUTE EFFECTS OF INSPIRATORY MUSCLE WARM-UP ON INSPIRATORY MUSCLE STRENGTH DURING AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC EXERCISE IN ATHLETES

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Inspiratory Muscle Warm-Up (40% MIP): A standardized inspiratory muscle warm-up performed using a breathing resistance device set at 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). Participants perform resisted inspiratory efforts prior to exercise to acutely activate respiratory muscles.

Placebo Breathing Warm-Up (15% MIP): A sham breathing warm-up performed using the same device and breathing pattern as the active intervention but with resistance set at 15% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), intended to minimize physiological loading while maintaining procedural similarity.

Study summary

Inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) is a specific pre-exercise breathing intervention designed to prepare the respiratory muscles before physical activity and potentially enhance exercise performance. Previous research suggests that IMW may acutely improve inspiratory muscle function; however, the duration of these effects during exercise and their responses under different exercise intensities remain unclear. Furthermore, placebo-controlled comparisons are limited in the current literature.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up on inspiratory muscle strength during aerobic and anaerobic exercise in trained athletes. The study will compare three experimental conditions: a standardized inspiratory muscle warm-up protocol, a placebo breathing warm-up, and a control condition without respiratory warm-up.

In this repeated-measures interventional study, trained athletes aged 14-30 years will complete three experimental sessions in randomized order. The active intervention consists of inspiratory muscle warm-up performed at 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). The placebo condition includes a low-resistance breathing protocol designed to mimic the intervention without providing a meaningful training stimulus. The control condition involves exercise performed without respiratory warm-up.

Participants will perform treadmill exercise at intensity levels representing aerobic and anaerobic workloads, defined according to percentage of maximal heart rate. Inspiratory muscle strength (MIP) will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the warm-up protocols, and periodically during exercise to evaluate time-dependent changes.

The primary objective is to determine how long the acute increase in inspiratory muscle strength is maintained during exercise and to compare responses between aerobic and anaerobic athletes across the three conditions. The findings may provide evidence-based guidance for integrating respiratory muscle warm-up strategies into sport-specific preparation routines.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Time to Decline in Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) During Exercise — From exercise onset until the time of MIP decline during a single acute exercise testing session (up to 30 minutes).
  Time (minutes) until maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) decreases below baseline or post-warm-up levels during aerobic and anaerobic exercise following inspiratory muscle warm-up, placebo breathing warm-up, or control conditions.

Trial sites (1)

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