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Inspiratory muscle training improves physical performance and cardiac autonomic modulation in older women

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Abstract

Purpose

Aging impairs the autonomic balance reducing the vagal and increasing the sympathetic components of heart rate variability (HRV) and this could be associated with a decline in physical capacity. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is a possible tool to attenuate this physical capacity decline in older women. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of IMT in the older women on physical capacity and autonomic cardiac modulation at rest and post exercise.

Methods

20 female participants 60–72 years old were randomly allocated in two groups. One group underwent IMT set at 50% of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), every day for 4 weeks (IMT-group). The placebo group performed the same training procedure but with a minimal resistance (5% MIP; PLA-group). Every week, the IMT load was readjusted and the HRV evaluated at rest. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) was performed once pre and post IMT-intervention. The IMT-group and PLA-group performed the same test and intervention procedures.

Results

After a 5 weeks intervention, the MIP had significantly improved in the IMT-group but not in the PLA-group (p < 0.01; es = 1.17). The high frequency power of the HRV spectrum had already improved by the second week (p < 0.01; es = 1.13) and remained elevated until the last week of intervention (p < 0.01; es = 1.43). The same positive results were described in 6MWT distance (p = 0.04; es = 0.39) and the change (∆) of heart rate recovery (HRR) from 1 min (p = 0.02; es = 0.68).

Conclusion

IMT increases HRV, improves 6MWT distance and HRR.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BP:

Blood pressure

es:

Effect size

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

FEV1:

Forced expiratory volume in 1 s

HR:

Heart rate

HRV:

Heart rate variability

HRR:

Post-exercise heart rate recovery

HF:

High frequency domain

IMT:

Inspiratory muscle training

LF:

Low frequency domain

LF/HF:

Autonomic balance

MIP:

Maximal inspiratory pressure

HRmax :

Maximal heart rate

PLA:

Placebo

PF:

Peak flow

PFT:

Pulmonary function test

6MWT:

Six-minute walking test

Δ:

Delta

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ/ E-26/110.079/2013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Professor Hernani Pires de Melo, 101-São Domingos, Niterói, Brazil

    Gabriel Dias Rodrigues, Thiago Rodrigues Gonçalves & Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares

  2. Department of Physical Education and Sports, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Professor Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis, s/n, Campus do Gragoatá, Niterói, RJ, CEP 24210-130, Brazil

    Jonas Lírio Gurgel

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  1. Gabriel Dias Rodrigues
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  2. Jonas Lírio Gurgel
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  3. Thiago Rodrigues Gonçalves
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  4. Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares
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Contributions

GDR, TRG, and PPSS conceived and designed research. GDR and TRG conducted experiments. GDR, JLG, TRG and PPSS analyzed the data. GDR, JLG, TRG, and PPSS wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pedro Paulo da Silva Soares.

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The author(s) declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Susan Hopkins.

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Rodrigues, G.D., Gurgel, J.L., Gonçalves, T.R. et al. Inspiratory muscle training improves physical performance and cardiac autonomic modulation in older women. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 1143–1152 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3844-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3844-9

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