Inspiratory Muscle Training in American Football Players

NCT07246655 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: YeditepeU 312
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the randomized controlled study is to investigate the effects of high-intensity inspiratory muscle training on respiratory strength, balance, and core endurance in American Football (Tackle Football) athletes.

Conditions

Inspiratory Muscle Training

Keywords

inspiratory muscle training; tackle football; core endurance; balance; performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Maximum Inspiratory Pressure test

  Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) will be measured at the mouth using a handheld pressure manometer in accordance with ATS/ERS recommendations. Participants will perform at least three maximal inspiratory efforts from residual volume, and the highest reproducible value will be recorded in cmH₂O.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of training

• Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP)

  Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) will be assessed with a handheld pressure manometer according to ATS/ERS standards. Participants will perform at least three maximal expiratory efforts from total lung capacity, and the highest reproducible value will be recorded in cmH₂O.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of training

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Core muscle endurance

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of training

• Balance Performance (Static and Dynamic)

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Vertical Jump Height

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Isometric Leg Strength

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 Performance (Yo-Yo IR1)

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Inspiratory muscle training Team strength and conditioning training

Behavioral: High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Team strength and conditioning training

Behavioral: Control Group

Interventions

High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the IMT Group will perform an 8-week high-intensity inspiratory muscle training protocol in addition to their routine team-based strength and conditioning program. Training loads will be individualized based on each athlete's maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and set at approximately 80% of MIP. Loads will be reassessed every two weeks, and the resistance will be adjusted to maintain the prescribed intensity.

High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training Group

Control Group BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the Control Group will continue their standard team-based strength, conditioning, and field training sessions throughout the 8-week study period. They will not receive inspiratory muscle training or any additional respiratory intervention.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Participants must be self-identified male American football athletes actively participating in team training.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Self-identified male American football athletes
• Ages 18 to 35 years
• Actively participating in team-based training at the time of study enrollment
• Minimum 1 year of organized American football training experience
• Able to perform high-intensity inspiratory muscle training (IMT)
• No history of acute respiratory infection in the past 4 weeks
• Voluntary agreement to participate and ability to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Acute or chronic respiratory disease (e.g., uncontrolled asthma, COPD)
• History of major cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders affecting performance
• Current rib, spine, abdominal, or core muscle injury
• Diagnosed pulmonary hypertension or unstable cardiac conditions
• Recent surgery (within the past 3 months)
• Inability to correctly perform inspiratory muscle training (IMT) device technique
• Participation in another interventional study within the last 30 days

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yeditepe University: lead
• Namik Kemal University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Univercity

Tekirdağ, Süleymanpaşa, 59100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Control Groups

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods

Study Officials

• Elif Develi, PhD.

  Yeditepe University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Posted: November 24, 2025
• Study Start: November 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 20, 2026
• Study Completion: January 21, 2026
• Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)