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Respiratory muscle strength training with nonrespiratory maneuvers
Vera A DePalo1, Annie Lin Parker, Fadi Al-Bilbeisi
1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island/Brown University School of Medicine, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860, USA. vera_depalo@brown.edu
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|September 30, 2003
Summary
Forceful nonrespiratory exercises like sit-ups can strengthen the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. This study found significant increases in muscle thickness and pressure generation after 16 weeks of training.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- The diaphragm and abdominal muscles are vital for respiration and can be activated during nonrespiratory activities.
- Nonrespiratory maneuvers can elevate transdiaphragmatic pressures, potentially stimulating muscle strength development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether consistent, forceful nonrespiratory exercises can lead to diaphragm strengthening in healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Four healthy subjects engaged in sit-ups and biceps curls 3-4 times weekly for 16 weeks.
- Measurements included maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure, static inspiratory/expiratory mouth pressures, and diaphragm thickness via ultrasound, assessed at baseline and post-training.
Main Results:
- Significant increases were observed in diaphragm thickness (2.5 to 3.2 mm), maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure (198 to 256 cmH2O), and maximal static inspiratory/expiratory pressures.
- Maximal gastric pressure also increased significantly (161 to 212 cmH2O) in the training group, with no changes in the control group.
Conclusions:
- Repeated forceful nonrespiratory maneuvers effectively strengthen inspiratory and expiratory muscles, including the diaphragm.
- The observed increases in muscle strength are attributed to training adaptations rather than a learning effect, as evidenced by increased diaphragm thickness.