New insights into respiratory muscle function in an athletic population

[摘要] The aims of this study were (1) to determine the effect of concurrent respiratory muscletraining (RMT) on respiratory muscle (RM) function and aerobic exercise performance inwomen competitive field hockey players, (2) to determine the effect and time duration ofRM detraining on RM function in those who underwent RMT, and (3) to determine thepredictors of RM strength and endurance in an athletic population.Twenty two women hockey players underwent a series of kinanthropometric and respiratorymuscle function measurements, and were then randomly assigned to an experimental group(EXP, n = 15) who underwent concurrent RMT, and a control group (CON, n = 7) whounderwent sham training. Twenty subjects took part in the RM detraining study.Significant improvements in pulmonary function and RM endurance (5 – 9%) were found inboth groups after the HT-RMT and HT-ST interventions, while EXP also showed asignificant improvement in RM strength variables (13% in MIP, 9% in MEP). MEF50% wasthe only variable that showed a significant difference in the changes over time after 20weeks of DT between EXP and CON. RM strength in both groups remained relativelyunchanged over the DT period. RM endurance in both groups remained unchanged after 9weeks of DT, but decreased significantly after 20 weeks of DT in EXP.It was concluded that the intensity and duration of both the HT-RMT and HT-STprogrammes were adequate to elicit training adaptations in the RM. In both groups therewas a complete reversal in lung volumes after 9 weeks and a tendency of a reversal in RMendurance after 20 weeks of DT. It is suggested that a RMT programme should beincorporated every 9 weeks in the training schedule of field hockey players, to maintainimproved RM function.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University