Inspiratory muscle training improves rowing performance

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a period of resistive inspiratory mu scle training (IMT) upon rowing performance. Methods: Performance was appra ised in 14 female competitive rowers at the commencement and after ii wk of inspiratory muscle training on a rowing ergometer by using a 6-min all-nut effort and a 5000-m trial. IMT consisted of 30 inspiratory efforts twice d airy. Each effort required the subject to inspire against a resistance equi valent to 50% peak inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) by using an inspirato ry muscle training device. Seven of the rowers, who formed the placebo grou p. used the same device but performed 60 breaths once daily with an inspira tory resistance equivalent to 15% PImax. Results: The inspiratory muscle st rength of the training group increased by 44 +/- 25 cm H2O (45.3 +/- 29.7%) compared with only 6 +/- 11 cm H2O (5.3 +/- 9.8%) of the placebo group (P < 0.05 within and between groups). The distance covered in the 6-min all-ou t effort increased by 3.5 +/- 1.2% in the training group compared with 1.6 +/- 1.0% in the placebo group (P < 0.05). The time in the 5000-m trial decr eased by 36 +/- 9 s (3.1 +/- 0.8%) in the training group compared with only 11 +/- 8 s (0.9 +/- 0.6%) in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, th e resistance of the training group to inspiratory muscle fatigue after the 6-min all-out effort was improved from an 11.2 +/- 4.3% deficit in PImax to only 3.0 +/- 1.6% (P < 0.05) pre- and post-intervention, respectively. Con clusions: IMT improves rowing performance on the 6-min all-out effort and t he 5000-m trial.