Inspiratory Muscle Performance is Significantly Related to Agility and Speed in Collegiate Tennis Players

Abstract

The Illinois Agility Test (IAT) measures sport agility by combining multi-directional skills with sprints. The Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE) evaluates inspiratory muscle strength and endurance via Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Sustained Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (SMIP). The relationship between athletic agility and inspiratory muscle performance (IMP) is unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the association between IMP and IAT results of Collegiate Tennis Players (CTP). METHODS: IMP of 7 male CTP (mean ± SD age = 20.3 ± 0.8 years, height = 186.2 ± 3.4 cm, and weight = 77.7 ± 6.5 kg) and 8 female CTP (age = 20.9 ± 0.8 years, height = 168.9 ± 6.2 cm, and weight = 64.7 ± 6.5 kg) was assessed via TIRE with the best of 3–5 trials providing MIP [measured from residual volume (RV)] and SMIP (measured from RV to total lung capacity). The IAT was performed twice with a 10-min rest between trials. The first and last intervals of the IAT comprised sprints to and from cones set 10 m apart, while the second interval involved weaving back and forth through four cones placed 3.3 m apart. A custom mobile app and tablet were used to time each IAT interval. RESULTS: MIP and SMIP of men were significantly (p<.05) greater than women (134.5 ± 19.4 vs. 99.5 ± 35.3 cm H2O and 791.1 ± 193.9 vs. 471.7 ± 162.8 PTU, respectively). Men were significantly (p<.05) faster during all IAT intervals and had a significant (p<.05) negative correlation between MIP and last sprint times of both trials (r = - .77 and - .89, respectively). In women, significant (p<.05) negative correlations existed between weaving time and SMIP of the first trial (r = - .77) and MIP and SMIP of the second trial (r = - .93 and - .89, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IMP was significantly correlated to IAT time in CTP but gender differences existed. The correlation between MIP and last sprints in men suggests that men depend on IMP for speed. MIP and SMIP were related to the weave interval in women suggesting that women depend more on IMP for agility. Stronger correlations existed between IMP and IAT during the second IAT trials suggesting that greater IMP provides less susceptibility to performance decrement associated with fatigue. Greater IMP may provide greater balance and contribute to greater agility in women and speed in men, resulting in improved performance in CTP.