Wongathikun, J., Williams, J. S., Boon, S. M., & Acevedo, E. O. (2001). Effects of resistive inspiratory muscle training on breathing capacity and whole-body endurance exercise capacity in trained individuals. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(5), Supplement abstract 335.

This study examined the effects of four weeks of resistive inspiratory muscle training (RIM) on respiratory muscle strength and endurance and whole-body endurance in trained distance runners (M = 5; F = 2).

Maximal sustained inspiratory pressure and breathing endurance time improved significantly after four weeks. However, VO2max and endurance exercise time did not change.

Implication. While inspiratory muscle function improves with RIM, those effects do not transfer to performance in trained athletes.

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