The effect of respiratory muscle training on the maximum oxygen consumption and the anaerobic threshold

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine if respiratory muscle (RM) training, through the MRFit protocol, increases the maximum oxygen consumption and the anaerobic threshold in a group of young professional swimmers, to improve their sports performance. Eleven professional swimmers (7 women and 4 men) between 13 and 17 years old were recruited in this study. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: control (CG) and training (TG). TG received RM training (MRFit) 20 minutes, two times a week for eight weeks incorporated into their usual training, while the CG only continued their usual training. All the participants performed, before and after the training, ergospirometric tests on a treadmill, to compare the results at the end of the eight weeks. Subsequently, a parametric statistical analysis was performed via a t-test. No significant differences were found for VO2max between CG and TG nor for the anaerobic threshold (p>0.05). Despite the non-significant results, we have determined different tendencies between both groups and clinical improvements.