Respiratory muscle endurance training improves exercise performance but does not affect resting blood pressure and sleep in healthy active elderly

Abstract

Purpose Ageing is associated with increased blood pressure (BP), reduced sleep, decreased pulmonary function and exercise capacity. The main purpose of this study was to test whether respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) improves these parameters. Methods Twenty-four active normotensive and prehypertensive participants (age: 65.8 years) were randomized and balanced to receive either RMET (N = 12) or placebo (PLA, N = 12). RMET consisted of 30 min of volitional normocapnic hyperpnea at 60% of maximal voluntary ventilation while PLA consisted of 1 inhalation day−1 of a lactose powder. Both interventions were performed on 4–5 days week−1 for 4–5 weeks. Before and after the intervention, resting BP, pulmonary function, time to exhaustion in an incremental respiratory muscle test (incRMET), an incremental treadmill test (IT) and in a constant-load treadmill test (CLT) at 80% of peak oxygen consumption, balance, sleep at home, and body composition were assessed. Data was analyzed with 2 × 2 mixed ANOVAs. Results Compared to PLA, there was no change in resting BP (independent of initial resting BP), pulmonary function, IT performance, sleep, body composition or balance (all p > 0.05). Performance significantly increased in the incRMET (+ 6.3 min) and the CLT (+ 3.2 min), resulting in significant interaction effects (p < 0.05). Conclusion In the elderly population, RMET might be used to improve respiratory and whole body endurance performance either as an adjunct to physical exercise training or as a replacement thereof for people not being able to intensively exercise even if no change in BP or sleep may be expected.

Effects of Different Inspiratory Muscle Training Protocols on Exercise Capacity, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Hypertension

“…Ublosakka-Jones et al [34] found that respiratory exercise training given at low load (MIP 25%) for 8 weeks was efective on arm endurance capacity. In another study examining the efects of respiratory muscle endurance training on performance capacity in normotensive elderly patients, respiratory muscle endurance training applied for 5 weeks caused an increase in performance [35]. Inspiratory muscle training applied at 30% of MIP in pulmonary hypertension patients was not diferent from the training given at the lowest load of the device in terms of 6MWT results [36].…”

Stress and Heart in Remodeling Process: Multiple Stressors at the Same Time Kill

“…Ublosakka-Jones et al [52] found that respiratory exercise training given at a low load for 8 weeks was effective on arm endurance capacity. An improvement in respiratory performance capacity caused by muscle endurance training in normotensive elderly patients continued with prolonged active training for 5 weeks [53]. It was observed that an 8-week workload applied to the inspiratory muscles can increase exercise capacity [54].…”