The Effect of Respiratory Muscle Training on the Pulmonary Function, Lung Ventilation, and Endurance Performance of Young Soccer Players

Krzysztof Mackała, Monika Kurzaj, Paulina Okrzymowska, Jacek Stodółka, Milan Coh and Krystyna Rożek-Piechura
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Krzysztof Mackała: Department of Track and Field, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Ul. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Monika Kurzaj: Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland, Ul. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Paulina Okrzymowska: Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland, Ul. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Jacek Stodółka: Department of Track and Field, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Ul. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Milan Coh: Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Gortanova ul. 22, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Krystyna Rożek-Piechura: Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland, Ul. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: This study investigated whether the addition of eight weeks of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to a regular preseason soccer training program, including incremental endurance training (IET), would change pulmonary function, lung ventilation, and aerobic performance in young soccer players. Sixteen club-level competitive junior soccer players (mean age 17.63 ± 0.48 years, height 182 ± 0.05 cm, body mass 68.88 ± 4.48 kg) participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: experimental (n = 8) and control (n = 8). Both groups performed regular preseason soccer training, including endurance workouts as IET. In addition to this training, the experimental group performed additional IMT for eigght weeks with a commercially available respiratory muscle trainer (Threshold IMT), with a total of 80 inhalations (twice per day, five days per week). Pre- and post-intervention tests of pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and the Cooper test were implemented. Eight weeks of IMT had a positive impact on expiratory muscle strength ( p = 0.001); however, there was no significant effect on respiratory function parameters. The results also indicate increased efficiency of the inspiratory muscles, contributing to an improvement in aerobic endurance, measured by VO?max estimated from running distance in the cardiorespiratory Cooper test ( p < 0.005).

Keywords: soccer; inspiratory training; lung ventilation; muscle strength; endurance; running (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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