Background: Respiratory muscle training (RMT) has been proposed as a beneficial means of improving respiratory muscle strength (RMS) and respiratory muscle fatigue (RMF) in athletes. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-week specific RMT program on the RMS, RMF and rowing ergometer performance in highly- trained rowers. Materials and Methods: Twenty professional rowers aged 20-35 years were recruited for the study during the competitive period and randomly grouped into an experimental (n=11) or control (n=9) group. Baseline measurements of maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures were obtained with a portable handheld mouth pressure meter while performance was assessed by 2000m and 5000m rowing ergometer machine. Subsequently rowers in the experimental group were prescribed a novel RMT program comprising of specific breathing and abdominal muscle exercises while the control group was prescribed a “general exercise program” for non- respiratory muscles for a 12-week period. RMF was assessed by calculating the difference between the pre-exercise and post-exercise mouth pressures. Results: Respiratory muscle strength improved overtime in the experimental and the control group following the respective training programs (p<0.05) with the experimental group showing higher RMS and lower RMF. However, there were no statistically significant differences in RMS and RMF between the two groups (P>0.05). More importantly, rowing ergometer performance improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the control (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results suggest that the novel RMT program had a significant effect in improving rowing performance, although the effect on RMS and RMF was not significant.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of RMT on ventilatory parameters, aerobic fitness and rowing ergometer performance among professional rowers in Sri Lanka. Twenty national male rowers, aged 20-35 years were grouped randomly into an experimental (n=11) and a control (n=9) group. Prior to the study, baseline measurements of ventilatory functions, aerobic fitness (VO2max) and rowing performance were assessed by a portable spirometer, 2000m and 5000m rowing ergometer and Monark cycle ergometer respectively. Subsequently, rowers in the experimental group were prescribed a RMT program comprising of breathing exercises while control group was prescribed a general exercise program for a 12 weeks after which all the above parameters were assessed again. The association of rowing ergometer performance with the ventilatory functions and aerobic fitness was assessed by pearson correlation. There were significant improvements in PIF, FVC, and VO2max in the experimental group after 12-weeks (p<0.05) while only VO2 max improved non-significantly in the control group (p>0.05). Compared to the control, PIF improved significantly in the experimental group (p<0.05). The rowers in the experimental group with higher PIF and VO2max performed better at 2000m and 5000m ergometer whereas in the control group, only VO2max was associated with better performance in 5000m ergometer. This suggests that the RMT program had a significant effect in improving some ventilatory parameters and VO2max of the rowers resulting in better performance.
Background: Cricket fast bowlers are identified as the players with a higher risk of injury due to their susceptibility to develop low back pain (LBP). Aims and Objective: This study aims to investigate how intrinsic factors associate with LBP among fast bowlers aged between 15-19 years in Colombo division 1 boys’ schools in Sri Lanka. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with one hundred and two (102) fast bowlers who were prospectively monitored over the competition period of 2019 cricket season and the demographic data, severity of LBP, general characteristics and intrinsic factors related data were recorded. Results: Thirty-seven (43.5%) of the subjects were presented with LBP. Reduction of quadriceps strength of dominant side, hamstring strength of non-dominant side and increased ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side were found to be significantly associated with non-contact LBP (P<0.05). There were significant differences for the quadriceps strength of dominant side and hamstring strength and ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side between the fast bowlers with and without LBP. Conclusion: The results concluded that reduced quadriceps muscle strength of dominant side, reduced hamstring muscle strength and higher ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side have an important role in predisposing a fast bowler to have an increase in non-contact LBP.
Objective: Cricket fast bowlers are identified as the greatest injury risk players who are more prone to sustain with low back pain (LBP). The current study was aimed to investigate how intrinsic factors associate with LBP among fast bowlers aged between 15-19 years. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with one hundred and two (102) fast bowlers in Colombo division 1 boys’ schools in Sri Lanka. Bowlers were prospectively monitored over the competition period of 2019 cricket season and the demographic data, severity of LBP, general characteristics and intrinsic factors related data were recorded.Results: Thirty-seven (43.5%) of the subjects were presented with LBP. Reduction of quadriceps strength of dominant side, hamstring strength of non-dominant side and increased ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side were found to be significantly associated with non-contact LBP (P<0.05). There were significant differences for the quadriceps strength of dominant side and hamstring strength and ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side between the fast bowlers with and without LBP. The results indicated that reduced quadriceps muscle strength of dominant side, reduced hamstring muscle strength and high ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side have an important role in predisposing a fast bowler to have an increase in non-contact LBP.
ObjectiveRowing is one of the most physically demanding endurance sports requiring high levels of ventilation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of RMT on ventilatory parameters, aerobic fitness and rowing ergometer performance among 20 professional rowers (experimental (n = 11) and control (n = 9) aged 20–35 years in Sri Lanka.ResultsRowers in the experimental group were prescribed a RMT program comprising of breathing exercises while control group was prescribed a general exercise program for a 12 weeks. There were significant improvements in PIF, FVC, and VO2maxin the experimental group after 12-weeks (p < 0.05) while only VO2 max improved non-significantly in the control group (p > 0.05).Compared to the control, PIF improved significantly in the experimental group (p < 0.05). The rowers in the experimental group with higher PIF and VO2max performed better at 2000 m and 5000 m ergometer whereas in the control group, only VO2max was associated with better performance in 5000 m ergometer. This suggests that the RMT program had a significant effect in improving some ventilatory parameters and VO2max of the rowers resulting in better performance.Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials UMIN000040345, 08/05/2020. “Retrospectively registered”
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