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Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(12): 1025-1029
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965077
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Exercise Capacity and Spontaneous Physical Activity in Elderly Subjects: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

S. Aznar-Lain1 , A. L. Webster2 , S. Cañete3 , A. F. San Juan3 , L. M. López Mojares3 , M. Pérez3 , A. Lucia3 , J. L. Chicharro4
  • 1Facultad de Ciencias de Deporte, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
  • 2Centre for Sport and Exercise Education, Camosun College, Victoria, BC, Canada
  • 3Facultad de Ciencias de Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • 4Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Publication History

accepted after revision January 29, 2007

Publication Date:
29 May 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been shown to improve exercise capacity in diseased populations. We chose to examine the effects of eight weeks of IMT on exercise capacity and spontaneous physical activity in elderly individuals. Eighteen moderately active elderly subjects (68.1 ± 6.8 years [mean ± SD]; range 58 - 78 years) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 9) or a control group (n = 9) in a double-blind manner. All subjects underwent inspiratory muscle testing, treadmill exercise testing and a four-day measurement period of spontaneous physical activity (using accelerometry) both pre- and post-intervention. The experimental group underwent eight weeks of incremental IMT using a pressure threshold device, while the control group underwent sham training using identical devices. After IMT training, inspiratory muscle strength (mean + 21.5 cm H2O; 95 % CI: 9.3, 33.7; p = 0.002), V·O2peak (+ 2.8 ml · min-1 · kg-1; 95 % CI: 0.5, 5.2; p = 0.022), time to exhaustion during a fixed workload treadmill test (+ 7.1 min; 95 % CI: 1.8, 2.4; p = 0.013) and time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (+ 59 min; 95 % CI: 15, 78; p = 0.008) improved. Except for a decline in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, no significant changes were seen in the control group. Therefore, IMT may be a useful technique for positively influencing exercise capacity and physical activity in elderly individuals.

Key words

respiratory muscles - breathing exercises - aging

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Dr. Susana Aznar-Lain

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
Facultad de Ciencias de Deporte

Avda. Carlos III s/n

45071 Toledo

Spain

Phone: + 34 925 26 88 00

Fax: + 34 925 26 88 46

Email: susana.aznar@uclm.es