Inspiratory Muscle Warm-up Improves Performance in Elite Swimmers

Abstract

Swimmers experience a mean reduction in inspiratory muscle strength after high intensity swimming assumed to be due to reversible muscle fatigue. Therefore, if a swimmers' inspiratory muscles can be strengthened by an appropriate priming or warm-up effect, then this may reduce the amount of fatigue and hence loss of force generating capacity in the inspiratory muscles. PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of a specific inspiratory muscle warm-up on maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and its concurrent impact on exertional dyspnoea and 200 m swimming performance. METHODS: Eight elite swimmers (5 male) performed a 200 m time trial after 1) a normal race warm-up (CON), and 2) a specific inspiratory warm-up followed by a normal race warm-up (INT). RESULTS: Inspiratory warm-up increased mean MIP by 11.9 ± 5.1% (P<0.01) and 11.4 ± 4.5% (P<0.01) on two separate occasions. Performance time after INT was significantly faster than after CON (134.9 ± 14.0 s vs. 136.5 ± 13.2 s, P<0.05), equivalent to a 1.2 ± 1.1% improvement. There was no difference in blood lactate [BLa-] or perceived exertion (RPE) between trials, but perceived dyspnoea was 0.5 ± 0.5 units of the Borg scale lower after the INT compared with the CON trial (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that inspiratory muscle strength can be enhanced with a specific inspiratory muscle warm-up. A specific inspiratory muscle warm-up plus a normal race warm-up is more effective than a normal race warm-up alone for maximising 200 m swimming time-trial performance.