Respiratory Muscle Training in Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract The effect of respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) on RM function, dyspnoea and exercise performance was evaluated in SCI athletes. Nine endurance athletes (7 paraplegics T4-L1, 2 post-polio syndromes) were evaluated on three occasions (T1–T3), with a 1-month interval between evaluations. Participants performed between T1 and T2 their standard individual exercise training program (control), and between T2 and T3 the same program with 5 additional RMET sessions per week. Each evaluation included: lung function tests, RM strength and endurance tests, a maximal incremental arm cranking test and a field test (simulated competition). Ventilation and dyspnoea were evaluated during each exercise test. Lung function variables and maximal inspiratory strength were not modified (p>0.05) while maximal expiratory strength (+23±36 cmH 2 O; p