Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on the Performance of Handball Athletes

This study investigated the effects of an inspiratory muscle training (IMT) program on the respiratory muscle strength and resistance and the aerobic physical performance (PP) of handball athletes. Nineteen male athletes took part in the study, allocated at random into the experimental group (EG, n=10) and the placebo group (PG, n=9), aged 19±1 and 22±5 years old, respectively. The respiratory muscle strength (RMS) was evaluated by measuring the maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP, respectively), the muscular respiratory resistance was evaluated by maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and the aerobic PP by applying the cardiopulmonary exercise test. Subsequently the volunteers were submitted to an IMT protocol 5 times a week for 12 weeks.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Athletic Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Device POWERbreathe

Detailed Description

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week IMT program on the respiratory muscle strength and aerobic physical performance of handball players. Nineteen male athletes took part in the study, divided into the experimental group (EG), which took part in the evaluations, maintained their regular sporting activities and carried out the IMT (n=10), and the placebo group (PG), which took part in the evaluations, maintained their regular sporting activities and carried out an IMT with a load considered to be placebo (n=09), Experimental procedures were carried out by trained researchers and a qualified team. The evaluations and IMT were carried out during the competitive season, the training frequency being based on the competition program, following the traditional annual model.

The athletes were submitted to an initial evaluation composed of measuring the respiratory muscle strength (RMS) using a manovacuometer, and an evaluation of the aerobic physical performance carried out using the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).

The athletes were reevaluated after 12 weeks for subsequent analysis and comparison with the initial values.

All the subjects were previously informed about the experimental procedures, and signed a free and clarified term of consent. The project was approved by the Ethics in Research Committee of the Institution with the number 62/13.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 19
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

GENDER: Male

AGE LIMITS:

Minimum age: 18 years Maximum age:30 years Accepts Healthy Volunteers? YES

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

• male gender
• competition level athlete for at least one year
• regularly takes part in the training sessions

Exclusion criteria:

• smoke
• shows signs of respiratory and/or cardiovascular diseases
• use supplements and/or medication that influences physical performance

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: placebo; Placebo group (PG) Nine athletes who maintained their regular sporting activities and were submitted to the IMT program for 12 weeks with a fixed load at 15% MIP, placebo protocol.	Procedure: Device POWERbreathe
Experimental: Experimental; Experimental group (EG) Ten athletes who maintained their regular sporting activities and were submitted to the IMT program for 12 weeks with a progressive load at 60%, 70% and 80 % of MIP.	Procedure: Device POWERbreathe

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effect of inspiratory muscle training on the respiratory muscle strength performed using a manometer and measured with cmH20	The evaluation of respiratory muscle strength (RMS) was performed using a manometer and measured with cmH20	Finalized study (24 weeks)
Effect of inspiratory muscle training on the muscular respiratory resistance evaluated by maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) carried out with a spirometer	The muscular respiratory resistance was evaluated by maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) carried out with a spirometer	Finalized study (24 weeks)
Effect of inspiratory muscle training on the aerobic physical performance (PP) using cardiopulmonary test (CPT), and measured by VO2max	The evaluation of aerobic performance was carried out using cardiopulmonary test (CPT), and measured by VO2max	Finalized study (24 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 10, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): January 8, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 8, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2016
• Last Verified: January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: athletic performance; Respiratory muscles; handball
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Aspiration
• Other Study ID Numbers: 62/13