Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Warm-Up on Physical Exercise: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically review the literature to examine the effects of inspiratory-muscle warm-up (IMW) on the inspiratory, metabolic, respiratory and performance parameters of a main exercise performed by athletes and healthy and active individuals. Methods: This systematic review included randomized studies in English based on the criteria of the PICOS model. The exclusion criteria adopted were studies that applied inspiratory exercise to: i. promote long-term adaptations through inspiratory training (chronic responses); ii. obtain acute responses to inspiratory load (overload) during and in breaks from physical effort and in an inspiratory-exercise session (acute training effect); iii. evaluate the effects of IMW on participants with cardiorespiratory and/or metabolic disease. Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, MedLine, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Google Scholar (until 17 January 2023). Results: Thirty-one studies were selected. The performance and respiratory parameters were the most investigated (77% and 74%, respectively). Positive effects of IMW were reported by 88% of the studies that investigated inspiratory parameters and 45% of those that evaluated performance parameters. Conclusions: The analyzed protocols mainly had positive effects on the inspiratory and performance parameters of the physical exercises. These positive effects of IMW are possibly associated with the contractile and biochemical properties of inspiratory muscles.

Wavelet Analysis of Respiratory Muscle sEMG Signals during the Physiological Breakpoint of Static Dry End-Expiratory Breath-Holding in Naive Apneists: A Pilot Study

“…Similarly, some other respiratory diseases can lead to a disproportionate increase in neural respiratory drive directed towards the respiratory muscles [ 48 , 49 ]. The correlation of the respiratory muscles with physical performance/training is also shown by respiratory muscle training [ 56 , 57 ].…”

Inspiratory muscles pre-activation in young swimmers submitted to a tethered swimming test: effects on mechanical, physiological, and skin temperature parameters

“…The choice of protocol was based on the positive PA findings in other sports 21 , 36 , 57 , as well as its easy applicability and short execution time. The vast majority of studies in the current literature use a volume of 2 sets of 30 repetitions, with positive effects on physiological, inspiratory, and mechanical parameters 9 , 12 . The load used in our protocol (40% of the MIP) was in line with previous studies that selected this inspiratory load because it represents the highest intensity at which inspiratory muscle fatigue is not induced 9 , 58 .…”

“…The inspiratory muscles pre-activation (IM PA ) protocol, which has been the subject of many studies in the field of sports, is a potential way of preceding main efforts and improving physical and sport performance 3 – 7 . Special attention has been given to this strategy since during high-intensity exercises there is an increase in inspiratory muscles (IMs) activity, leading to hyperventilation, early fatigue and a concomitant decrease in performance 8 , which appears to be minimized when IM PA is used, mainly due to the delay in the inspiratory muscle metaboreflex 9 , 10 .…”

Potential Therapeutic Role of Respiratory Muscle Training in Dyspnea Management of Cancer Survivors: A Narrative Review

“…The respiratory muscles are responsible for the air flow in (inspiration) and out of (expiration) the lungs [ 18 , 19 ]. The primary muscle of inspiration is the diaphragm and additional muscles include the external intercostals, as well as accessory muscles including the sternocleidomastoid and the scalene muscles [ 19 ].…”