Inspiratory Muscle Training Enhances Jumping Power and Shoot-ing Performance in Elite Air Pistol Athletes

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a four-week inspiratory muscle training (IMT) program on physical and motor performance parameters and shooting accuracy in elite male air pistol athletes. Twenty athletes were randomly assigned to either an IMT group or a control group. Outcome measures included jumping performance, reaction time, flexibility, and shooting accuracy assessed via the SCATT system. The findings demonstrated that IMT significantly improved lower-limb explosive power and shooting performance without affecting reaction time or flexibility.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Inspiratory Muscle Training; Jump Performance; Shooting Performance; Precision Sport Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) Group; Other: Control Group (A):

Detailed Description

Air pistol shooting is a precision sport requiring postural stability, neuromuscular coordination, and controlled breathing. Inspiratory muscle training has been shown to enhance respiratory muscle strength, trunk stability, and neuromuscular efficiency. However, evidence regarding its effects in precision sports is limited.

This study employed a four-week parallel-group randomized controlled design to examine whether IMT improves jumping performance, reaction time, and shooting accuracy in elite air pistol athletes. The IMT group performed twice-daily resisted breathing sessions using a POWERbreathe® device, while the control group continued standard training. Performance outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention period.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane
    • Gümüşhane, Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane, Turkey (Türkiye), 29600
      • Gumushane Univetsity

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male athletes aged 18-35 years
• Minimum of 3 years of systematic air pistol shooting experience
• Regular training for at least the previous 6 months
• Medically cleared for physical activity

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders
• Current injury affecting performance
• Participation in respiratory muscle training within the last 6 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) Group; Participants performed inspiratory muscle training using a POWERbreathe® Classic device. Training consisted of two daily sessions of 30 resisted breaths, six days per week, for four weeks. Initial resistance was set at 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and progressively increased weekly.	Other: Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) Group; Participants performed inspiratory muscle training using a POWERbreathe® Classic device. Training consisted of two daily sessions of 30 resisted breaths, six days per week, for four weeks. Initial resistance was set at 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and progressively increased weekly.; Other: Control Group (A): Participants continued their regular air pistol training routines without inspiratory muscle training.
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants continued their regular air pistol training routines without inspiratory muscle training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Shooting Performance (SCATT Score)	Shooting accuracy and stability assessed using the SCATT shooting simulation system	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Countermovement Jump Height and Power	Measured using OptoJump Next system	4 Weeks
Squat Jump Height and Power	Measured using OptoJump Next system	4 Weeks
Visual Reaction Time	Assessed using Cognitech reaction time tester	4 weeks
Auditory Reaction Time	Assessed using Cognitech reaction time tester	4 week
Flexibility (Sit-and-Reach Test)	Flexibility (Sit-and-Reach Test)	4 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gümüşhane Universıty

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 5, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): October 20, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 12, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inspiratory Muscle Training; Reaction Time; Jump performance; Shooting performance; SCATT
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Research Design; Methods; Population Characteristics; Demography; Control Groups; Population Groups
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025-019

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: The individual participant data collected in this study will not be shared with other researchers due to the need to protect participant confidentiality and the lack of permission for data sharing within the scope of informed consent.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No