Maximal inspiratory pressure is influenced by intensity of the warm-up protocol

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of inspiratory muscle warm-up protocols with different intensities and breathing repetitions on maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). Ten healthy and recreationally active men (183.3±5.5cm, 83.7±7.8kg, 26.4±4.1years) completed four different inspiratory muscle (IM) warm-up protocols (2×30 inspirations at 40% MIP, 2×12 inspirations at 60% MIP, 2×6 inspirations at 80% MIP, 2×30 inspirations at 15% MIP) on separate, randomly assigned visits. Pre-post values of MIP using MicroRPM (Micro Medical, Kent, UK) showed a significant increase in the mean values after the IM warm-up (POWERbreathe® K1, Warwickshire, UK) with 40% MIP and 60% MIP warm-up protocols, when MIP increased by 7cm H2O (95% CI: 0.10…13.89) (p=0.047) and by 6.4cm H2O (95% CI: 2.98…13.83) (p=0.027), respectively. In conclusion, a higher intensity inspiratory muscle warm-up protocol (2×12 breaths at 60% of MIP) can increase IM strength.