Warm-up of the Inspiratory Musculature and Its Impact in Swimming Performance

NCT07595328 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 100220261562026Sponsor-Investigator
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 52
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Objective To evaluate the acute effect of four inspiratory warm-up intensities (15%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal inspiratory pressure \[MIP\]) on 100 m freestyle performance, and to analyze their impact on heart rate, blood lactate concentration, perceived exertion, and dyspnea in trained swimmers. Methods A randomized, crossover, double-blind experimental study was conducted. Participants were swimmers aged ≥18 years, with no respiratory or musculoskeletal pathology. Each participant completed, in sessions separated by at least three days, an inspiratory muscle warm-up consisting of 30 breaths against resistive loads set at 15%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of their MIP, previously determined using standardized procedures. Following each intervention, participants performed a maximal 100 m freestyle test. The following variables were recorded: Swimming time Heart rate (during and post-exercise) Post-exercise capillary blood lactate concentration Rating of perceived exertion (Borg scale) Dyspnea (Dyspnea-12) Conclusions This study will help identify the optimal inspiratory warm-up intensity to enhance swimming performance.

Conditions

Swimming; IMT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• swimming time (100 meters)

  After the respiratory interventions, participants will perform a maximal 100-meter freestyle swimming test under supervision. The total time will be recorded using a digital stopwatch, starting with the starting signal and ending when the swimmer touches the wall upon completing the distance.

  This measurement will be carried out from the randomization process until 8 weeks after the start of the inspiratory training program.

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Maximal Inspiratory Pressure and Maximal Expiratory Pressure

  This measurement will be carried out from the randomization process until 8 weeks after the start of the inspiratory training program.

• Lactate

  This measurement will be carried out from the randomization process until 8 weeks after the start of the inspiratory training program.

• Perceived exertion.

  This measurement will be carried out from the randomization process until 8 weeks after the start of the inspiratory training program.

• Dysnea

  This measurement will be carried out from the randomization process until 8 weeks after the start of the inspiratory training program.

• Heart rate.

  This measurement will be carried out from the randomization process until 8 weeks after the start of the inspiratory training program.

Study Arms (4)

IMT: 15%

EXPERIMENTAL

The study will apply four respiratory warm-up intensities (15%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal inspiratory pressure) to compare their acute effects on these variables. This graded loading approach will allow identification of the optimal dose capable of maximizing diaphragmatic neuromuscular activation without inducing early fatigue, leveraging the post-activation potentiation phenomenon to improve respiratory efficiency and swimming performance.

Device: POWERbreath

IMT:40%

EXPERIMENTAL

The study will apply four respiratory warm-up intensities (15%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal inspiratory pressure) to compare their acute effects on these variables. This graded loading approach will allow identification of the optimal dose capable of maximizing diaphragmatic neuromuscular activation without inducing early fatigue, leveraging the post-activation potentiation phenomenon to improve respiratory efficiency and swimming performance.

Device: POWERbreath

IMT: 60%

EXPERIMENTAL

The study will apply four respiratory warm-up intensities (15%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal inspiratory pressure) to compare their acute effects on these variables. This graded loading approach will allow identification of the optimal dose capable of maximizing diaphragmatic neuromuscular activation without inducing early fatigue, leveraging the post-activation potentiation phenomenon to improve respiratory efficiency and swimming performance.

Device: POWERbreath

IMT: 80%

EXPERIMENTAL

The study will apply four respiratory warm-up intensities (15%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of maximal inspiratory pressure) to compare their acute effects on these variables. This graded loading approach will allow identification of the optimal dose capable of maximizing diaphragmatic neuromuscular activation without inducing early fatigue, leveraging the post-activation potentiation phenomenon to improve respiratory efficiency and swimming performance.

Device: POWERbreath

Interventions

POWERbreath DEVICE

It is a crossover study in which the different exercise intensities are investigated.

IMT: 15%; IMT: 60%; IMT: 80%; IMT:40%

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants of both sexes, aged over 18 years.
• Minimum swimming training frequency of at least two sessions per week, with a minimum duration of 30 minutes per session, consistently maintained over the last three months.

You may not qualify if:

• Current or previous diagnosis of respiratory diseases.
• Musculoskeletal injuries limiting the ability to perform a 100-meter swimming test.
• Participation in inspiratory muscle training programs within the last six months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Rey Juan Carlos: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 19, 2026
• First Posted: May 19, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02