Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

The Effect of an Inspiratory Muscle Training Period at High Altitude on Arterial Oxygen Saturation and Performance of Irans National Team Endurance Runners

Abstract

Mohamadi Mirzaei Roohollah and Mirdar Shadmehr

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inspiratory muscle training at high altitude on peripheral capillary oxygen saturation and performance among endurance runners. Twelve endurance male runners (age: 24 yrs ± 3 yrs, height: 180.5 cm ± 4.2 cm, weight: 66.7 kg ± 3 kg, Body mass index: 20.5 ± 1.0) among Iranian national team were randomly divided into case and control group in hypoxic condition. Exhaustive testing free 1500 m, strength Index and arterial oxygen saturation tests were taken before and 24 h after training period. Training program include same continues, interval, aerobic and resistance training for two groups. Runners performed 16 training session per week in high altitude within four weeks. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (P ≤ 0.05). Inspiratory muscle training at hypoxia due to significant decrease in 1500 m running performance, inspiratory muscle strength and peak inspiratory flow in both group, but the differences in volume and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation were not significant (P ≤ 0.05).

This study suggests that using inspiratory muscle training along with specified training in hypoxia increases inspiratory muscle strength and peak inspiratory flow pressure meanwhile it decreases ventilation and 1500 m running time in lower altitude.