RESUMEN
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 cm H2O; p<0.01) and respiratory endurance (+3 min 33 s+/-2 min 42 s, p<0.01) increased from T2 to T3. During the arm cranking test, exercise duration and maximal power output were slightly increased at T3 compared to T2 (+46+/-39 s, p=0.09 and +8+/-8 W, p=0.08) while ventilation and dyspnoea remained similar. During the field test, exercise time (-10+/-33 s, p=0.37) and ventilation were unchanged but dyspnoea was reduced (-2+/-2 pts, p=0.02) between T2 and T3. We concluded that RMET can improve RM function, reduce the perception of dyspnoea but modifies only slightly exercise performance in SCI athletes.
