Mustafa Özdal

Acute effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up on pulmonary function in healthy subjects.

The acute effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up on pulmonary functions were examined in 26 healthy male subjects using the pulmonary function test (PFT) in three different trials. The control trial (CON) did not involve inspiratory muscle warm-up, while the placebo (IMWp) and experimental (IMW) trials involved inspiratory muscle warm-up. There were no significant changes between the IMWp and CON trials (p>0.05). All the PFT measurements, including slow vital capacity, inspiratory vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, maximal voluntary ventilation, and maximal inspiratory pressure were significantly increased by 3.55%, 12.52%, 5.00%, 2.75%, 2.66%, and 7.03% respectively, in the subjects in the IMW trial than those in the CON trial (p<0.05). These results show that inspiratory muscle warm-up improved the pulmonary functions. The mechanisms responsible for these improvements are probably associated with the concomitant increase in the inspiratory muscle strength, and the cooperation of the upper thorax, neck, and respiratory muscles, and increased level of reactive O2 species in muscle tissue, and potentially improvement of muscle O2 delivery-to-utilization. However, further investigation is required to determine the precise mechanisms responsible from among these candidates.

Effect of respiratory warm-up on anaerobic power.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of respiratory muscle warm-up on anaerobic power. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty male field hockey players (age, 20.5 ± 2.0 years) each participated in a control (CAN) trial and an experimental (EAN) trial. The EAN trial involved respiratory muscle warm-up, while the CAN trial did not. Anaerobic power was measured using the Wingate protocol. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare the EAN and CAN trials. [Results] There were significant increases in peak power and relative peak power, and decreases in the time to peak after the EAN trial by 8.9%, 9.6%, and 28.8% respectively. [Conclusion] Respiratory muscle warm-up may positively affect anaerobic power due to faster attainment of peak power.

Influence of an eight-week core strength training program on respiratory muscle fatigue following incremental exercise

BACKGROUND: Respiratory muscles are important for exercise tolerance. Respiratory muscle fatigue (RMF) has a negative influence on exercise performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a core strength training (CST) program on the RMF following incremental exercise. METHODS: Thirty male volleyball players participated in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups as experimental group (EG, n = 15) and control group (CG, n = 15). An eight-week CST program was implemented in the EG. The CG subjects participated in their respective sport training routine. The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was measured twice at the baseline and endline incremental exercise both before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the eight weeks. A reduction in the MIP between the baseline and endline incremental exercise was considered to be indicative of the RMF. RESULTS:There was a significant decrease in the MIP at the baseline and endline between the pre- and post-tests of both groups ( p 0.05). A significant decrease in the RMF was observed between the pre- and post- tests in the EG after the eight-week CST program ( p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These variations indicate that core strength training may positively affect both the strength and fatigue of respiratory muscles.

Acute, chronic, and combined pulmonary responses to swimming in competitive swimmers

The combined effects of swimming on the inspiratory muscles and pulmonary functions are not well known. The aim of the present study was to determine the acute, chronic, and combined effects of swimming on the pulmonary functions and respiratory muscles of competitive swimmers. Thirty males (15 in the experimental group [EG] and 15 in the control group [CG]) participated in this study. The EG subjects participated in an 8-week swim training program and performed 1 day before and after an 8-week 100-m swimming event. Pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle strength were measured immediately before and after the swimming event in the EG and before and after an 8-week period in the CG. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measures one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference, and independent- and paired-sample t-tests. Swimming exerted negative acute effects (p < 0.05) and positive chronic effects (p < 0.05) on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions. Further, the negative acute effects decreased the combined effects of the chronic and acute effects of swimming on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions (p < 0.05). The results indicated that swimming exerts negative acute, positive chronic, and combined effects on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions.