The effects of inspiratory muscle training in athletes: a systematic review/OS EFEITOS DO TREINAMENTO MUSCULAR INSPIRATORIO EM ATLETAS: UMA REVISAO SISTEMATICA

The study reviews the impact of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) on athletes participating in both team and individual sports, emphasizing its influence on respiratory capacity. The relevance of physiotherapy in enhancing sports performance by conditioning the respiratory musculature is highlighted, which is crucial in meeting the physical demands of sports activities. The methodology employed was an systematic literature review, examining 606 articles, of which 11 were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Various sports modalities were studied, primarily involving male participants. The most common IMT devices were Powerbreathe and Threshold, varying in protocols, weekly frequency, and intervention duration. The results indicate significant improvements in respiratory capacity, particularly in inspiratory muscle strength (PImax), among athletes in diverse sports such as swimming, athletics, and football. Some studies showed positive associations between IMT and sports performance, such as reduced times in swimming tests. The duration of training appears to impact the results, suggesting that shorter periods may require higher session frequencies for effectiveness. The study concludes that IMT leads to improvements in respiratory capacity and, in some cases, in sports performance, emphasizing its significance for athletes. However, further research is necessary to establish ideal IMT protocols, encompassing duration, load, progression, and frequency, considering a broader range of sports modalities, to solidify its applicability as a valuable tool for athletes. Key words. Respiratory Muscle. Training. Athletes. Physiotherapy. O estudo revisa o impacto do treinamento muscular inspiratorio (TMI) em atletas de esportes coletivos e individuais, enfatizando sua influencia na capacidade respiratoria. Destaca-se a relevancia da fisioterapia na melhoria do desempenho esportivo ao condicionar a musculatura respiratoria, crucial para enfrentar as exigencias fisicas das atividades esportivas. A metodologia utilizada foi a revisao sistematica da literatura, examinando 606 artigos, que apos a aplicacao dos criterios de inclusao e exclusao, 11 foram selecionados. Diversas modalidades esportivas foram estudadas, principalmente com participantes do sexo masculino. Os dispositivos de TMI mais comuns foram Powerbreathe e Threshold, variando em protocolos, frequencia semanal e duracao da intervencao. Os resultados indicam melhorias significativas na cap