Four Weeks of Inspiratory Muscle Training Improves Self-Paced Walking Performance in Overweight and Obese Adults : A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract EN

Objective.

To examine whether a programme of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves accumulative distance of self-paced walking in overweight and obese adults.

Methods.

A total of 15 overweight and obese adults were randomized into experimental (EXP: n=8) and placebo (PLA: n=7) groups.

Lung function, inspiratory muscle performance, 6-minute walking test, and predicted V˙O2 max were assessed prior to and following the 4-week IMT intervention.

Both groups performed 30 inspiratory breaths, twice daily using a proprietary inspiratory resistance device set to 55% of baseline maximal effort (EXP), or performing the same inspiratory training procedure at the minimum resistive setting (PLA).

Results.

Lung function was unchanged in both groups after-training; however inspiratory muscle strength was significantly improved in EXP (19±25.2 cm H2O gain; P<0.01) but did not significantly change in PLA.

Additionally, the posttraining distance covered in the 6-minute walking test was significantly extended for EXP (62.5±37.7 m gain; P<0.01), but not for PLA.

A positive association was observed between the change (%) of performance gain in the 6-minute walking test and body mass index (r=0.736; P<0.05) for EXP.

Conclusion.

The present study suggests that IMT provides a practical, minimally intrusive intervention to significantly augment both inspiratory muscle performance and walking distance covered by overweight and obese adults in a clinically relevant 6-minute walk test.

This indicates that IMT may provide a useful priming (preparatory) strategy prior to entry in a physical training programme for overweight and obese adults.