Influence of Respiratory Muscle Training on Objective and Subjective Training Load Measures in Triathletes
Condition: Athletic Performance
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Two groups of healthy, highly trained triathletes trained respiratory muscles with one of the
      two methods: voluntary isocapnic hyperpnoea (VIH) or inspiratory pressure threshold loading
      (IPTL). The main purpose of this study was to accurately and thoroughly assess the potential
      extra load that RMT puts on athletes and determine if there are significant differences in
      RMT-induced load between the investigated training methods.

      Informed written consent was obtained from the all study participants. All procedures were
      carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
    

Detailed description: 
      The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Whereas
      participants and data collectors were aware of the allocated training method, the data
      analysts and laboratory technicians performing biochemistry assays were kept blinded to the
      allocation. The participants were assigned at random to either VIH or IPTL training group to
      perform RMT with progressive overload for 6 weeks.

      Three training sessions (week 1, 4, 6) were monitor to assess the potential extra load that
      RMT puts on athletes and determine if there are significant differences in RMT-induced load
      between the investigated training methods.

      Blood samples used for acid-base balance (pH), partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), partial
      pressure for carbon dioxide (pCO2), partial pressure for bicarbonate ion (HCO3-), and blood
      lactate (bLa) were collected immediately after cessation of the exercise and MPQ was
      presented 1' after cessation of the exercise. Blood samples for cortisol (C) and testosterone
      (T) were collected 5' after cessation of the exercise. The second S-Index Test was performed
      between minute 5 and minute 7 after cessation of the exercise. RPE was assessed 10' after
      cessation of the exercise. The participants again answered MPQ after 24h and 48h after the
      monitored RMT sessions.

      Informed written consent was obtained from the all study participants. All procedures were
      carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
    

Intervention name(s): Respiratory Muscle Training - VIH; Respiratory Muscle Training - ITPL
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The VIH group will train every second day with gradual progression based on session length and breathing frequency. Participants will begin with 3 minutes of exercise with a frequency of 20 breaths·min-1 during the first session and add no more than 1 minute or 2 breaths·min-1 with each consecutive session.; The IPTL group will train 5 days a week, twice a day, with at least 6 hours break between sessions. The session will consist of 30 dynamic inspiratory maneuvers with progressive overload based on gradually increased resistance. The VIH group will train every second day with gradual progression based on session length and breathing frequency. Participants will begin with 3 minutes of exercise with a frequency of 20 breaths·min-1 during the first session and add no more than 1 minute or 2 breaths·min-1 with each consecutive session.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Other