Respiratory Muscle Training

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Introduction

Inspiratory muscle training is defined as a course of therapy consisting of a series of breathing exercises that aim to strengthen the bodies’ respiratory muscles making it easier for people to breathe. Inspiratory muscle training is normally aimed at people who suffer from asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and COPD. However, many people adopt IMT as part of their sports training as this training is designed to strengthen the muscles used for breathing. This is done through a series of controlled breathing exercises. Studies have shown that regular IMT can increase a person’s endurance during cardiovascular exercise or sports activities such as running and cycling.

When a person is breathing normally, they typically use between 10 to 15 per cent of his or her total lung capacity. However, with Inspiratory muscle training, a person can typically increase the amount of lung capacity used. Deeper breathing uses a bit more energy but also allows more oxygen to enter the bloodstream with each breath while strengthening the breathing muscles. Strengthening inspiratory muscles by performing daily breathing exercises for at least six weeks significantly reduces the amount of oxygen these same breathing muscles require during exercise, resulting in more oxygen being available for other muscles.

Responses to RMT

Things that change:

• effort related responses:
  • breathing effort
  • whole body effort
• metabolic related responses
  • respiratory muscle fatigue
  • breathing pattern
  • lactate turnover
  • heart rate
  • oxygen uptake kinetics

These do not change:

• maximal oxygen uptake
• maximum lactate threshold

How does it work - mechanisms

• optimisation of blood flow distribution
• attenuation of central fatigue
• reduced sense of respiratory and peripheral effort

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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References

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