Influence of Respiratory Muscle Training on Objective and Subjective Training Load Measures in Triathletes

Two groups of healthy, highly trained triathletes trained respiratory muscles with one of the two methods: voluntary isocapnic hyperpnoea (VIH) or inspiratory pressure threshold loading (IPTL). The main purpose of this study was to accurately and thoroughly assess the potential extra load that RMT puts on athletes and determine if there are significant differences in RMT-induced load between the investigated training methods. Informed written consent was obtained from the all study participants. All procedures were carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Whereas participants and data collectors were aware of the allocated training method, the data analysts and laboratory technicians performing biochemistry assays were kept blinded to the allocation. The participants were assigned at random to either VIH or IPTL training group to perform RMT with progressive overload for 6 weeks. Three training sessions (week 1, 4, 6) were monitor to assess the potential extra load that RMT puts on athletes and determine if there are significant differences in RMT-induced load between the investigated training methods. Blood samples used for acid-base balance (pH), partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), partial pressure for carbon dioxide (pCO2), partial pressure for bicarbonate ion (HCO3-), and blood lactate (bLa) were collected immediately after cessation of the exercise and MPQ was presented 1' after cessation of the exercise. Blood samples for cortisol (C) and testosterone (T) were collected 5' after cessation of the exercise. The second S-Index Test was performed between minute 5 and minute 7 after cessation of the exercise. RPE was assessed 10' after cessation of the exercise. The participants again answered MPQ after 24h and 48h after the monitored RMT sessions. Informed written consent was obtained from the all study participants. All procedures were carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.