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Pulmonary adaptations to swim and inspiratory muscle training

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Abstract

Because the anomalous respiratory characteristics of competitive swimmers have been suggested to be due to inspiratory muscle work, the respiratory muscle and pulmonary function of 30 competitively trained swimmers was assessed at the beginning and end of an intensive 12-week swim training (ST) program. Swimmers (n = 10) combined ST with either inspiratory muscle training (IMT) set at 80% sustained maximal inspiratory pressure (SMIP) with progressively increased work–rest ratios until task failure for 3-days per week (ST + IMT) or ST with sham-IMT (ST + SHAM-IMT, n = 10), or acted as controls (ST only, ST, n = 10). Measures of respiratory and pulmonary function were assessed at the beginning and end of the 12 week study period. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in respiratory and pulmonary function between groups (ST + IMT, ST + SHAM-IMT and ST) at baseline and at the end of the 12 week study period. However, within all groups significant increases (P < 0.05) were observed in a number of respiratory and pulmonary function variables at the end of the 12 week study, such as maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure, inspiratory power output, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory and inspiratory volume in 1-s, total lung capacity and diffusion capacity of the lung. This study has demonstrated that there are no appreciable differences in terms of respiratory changes between elite swimmers undergoing a competitive ST program and those undergoing respiratory muscle training using the flow-resistive IMT device employed in the present study; as yet, the causal mechanisms involved are undefined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Timothy D. Mickleborough & Joel M. Stager

  2. Councilman Center for the Science of Swimming, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Timothy D. Mickleborough & Joel M. Stager

  3. School of Sport Science, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK

    Timothy D. Mickleborough & Martin R. Lindley

  4. Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK

    Martin R. Lindley

  5. Physiotherapy Department, University of Wales College of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales and Llandough Hospital, NHS Trust, Cardiff, CF64 2XX, UK

    Ken Chatham

  6. Section of Respiratory Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales and Llandough Hospital, NHS Trust, Cardiff, CF64 2XX, UK

    Alina A. Ionescu

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  1. Timothy D. Mickleborough
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  2. Joel M. Stager
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  4. Martin R. Lindley
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Correspondence to Timothy D. Mickleborough.

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Mickleborough, T.D., Stager, J.M., Chatham, K. et al. Pulmonary adaptations to swim and inspiratory muscle training. Eur J Appl Physiol 103, 635–646 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0759-x

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