Land- and Water-based Inspiratory Muscle Training in Young Swimmers (IMT)

March 21, 2026 updated by: Bilgehan Melikşah Çaloğlu, Ondokuz Mayıs University

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Performance in Young Swimmers: a Comparison of Land- and Water-based Applications

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of four weeks of land- and water-based inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on performance and selected physiological variables in young swimmers. A total of 30 competitive swimmers (22 males and 8 females), who have been training regularly for at least two years, will be voluntarily recruited and assigned to three groups: Land + IMT, Swimming + IMT, and Water + IMT. To compare the effects of different training protocols and evaluate their specific contributions to performance, participants will undergo assessments before the intervention and after the completion of the four-week training period. These assessments will include anthropometric measurements, pulmonary function tests, respiratory muscle strength, 100- and 200-meter freestyle swimming performance, stroke rate and stroke efficiency, as well as cardiopulmonary capacity.

Previous studies investigating the effects of inspiratory muscle training in swimmers have generally applied the intervention in land-based settings and reported positive physical and physiological adaptations. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous study has examined the effects of IMT performed in the water in swimmers. This novel approach is expected to better simulate the actual breathing demands encountered during swimming, thereby improving respiratory control, promoting a more efficient breathing rhythm during competition, and enhancing swimming performance.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Atakum
      • Samsun, Atakum, Turkey (Türkiye), 55200
        • Recruiting
        • Ondokuz Mayıs University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Young competitive swimmers aged between 13 and 18 years.

Regular participation in swimming training for at least 2 years.

Participation in routine training consisting of approximately 20 hours/week of pool training and 8 hours/week of land training.

Being medically fit to participate in swimming training and inspiratory muscle training.

-

Exclusion Criteria:

Presence of any acute or chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorder that may affect exercise performance or respiratory function.

Current upper or lower respiratory tract infection at the time of assessment or intervention.

Use of medication that may affect respiratory or exercise performance.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Land-Based IMT Group
Participants in this group will perform inspiratory muscle training using a PowerBreathe device on land, in addition to their regular swimming and land-based training routines.
Device: Land-Based Inspiratory Muscle Training
Participants allocated to this group will perform inspiratory muscle training on land using a PowerBreathe device in addition to their regular swimming and land-based training routines. The intervention will be performed 5 days per week for 4 weeks, with 2 sets of 30 breaths at an intensity of 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure. The training load will be progressively increased weekly.
Experimental: Swimming-Based IMT Group
Participants in this group will perform inspiratory muscle training during the warm-up period of pool training while swimming on their back using a PowerBreathe device, in addition to their regular swimming and land-based training routines.
Device: Swimming-Based Inspiratory Muscle Training
Participants allocated to this group will perform inspiratory muscle training during the warm-up period of pool training while swimming on their back using a PowerBreathe device, in addition to their regular swimming and land-based training routines. The intervention will be performed 5 days per week for 4 weeks, with a total of 60 controlled breaths. The training load will be progressively increased weekly.
Experimental: Water-Based Static IMT Group
Participants in this group will perform inspiratory muscle training in the water in a static position, with the body immersed and the head above water, while standing with feet supported against the pool wall, in addition to their regular swimming and land-based training routines
Device: Water-Based Static Inspiratory Muscle Training
Participants allocated to this group will perform inspiratory muscle training in water in a static position, with the body immersed up to the neck and the head above water, while the feet are supported against the pool wall. The intervention will be performed using a PowerBreathe device in addition to regular swimming and land-based training routines, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, with 2 sets of 30 breaths at an intensity of 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure. The training load will be progressively increased weekly.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max)
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
VO₂max will be assessed during a cardiopulmonary exercise test as an indicator of aerobic performance capacity.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
100 m Time Trial
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
The 100 m time trial is a performance test that measures the time required to complete a 100-meter swim at maximal effort.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
200 m Time Trial
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
The 200 m time trial is a performance test that measures the time required to complete a 100-meter swim at maximal effort.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
Stroke Rate
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
Stroke rate is the number of stroke cycles performed per unit of time during swimming, usually expressed as cycles or strokes per minute.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
FEV1/FVC
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
The FEV1/FVC ratio is a number that represents the percentage of patient lung capacity patient is able to exhale in one second.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
FEV1
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
This is the amount of air with pulmonary function test that the patient can force out of their lungs in one second.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
FVC
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
This is the greatest total amount of air patient can forcefully breathe out after breathing in as deeply as possible.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
PEF
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
Peak expiratory flow is the highest flow achieved during a forceful expiration initiated after a full inspiration.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
MIP
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) is the highest pressure generated during a maximal inspiratory effort against an occluded airway.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
MEP
Time Frame: Before and after 4 weeks of intervention
Maximal expiratory pressure is the highest pressure generated during a maximal expiratory effort against an occluded airway.
Before and after 4 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ondokuz Mayıs University

Investigators

  • Study Director: Özgür Bostancı, Prof. Dr., Ondokuz Mayıs University
  • Principal Investigator: Bilgehan M Çaloğlu, MSc, Ondokuz Mayıs University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

March 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • OMU KAEK 2025/223

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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