Inspiratory muscle warm-up does not improve cycling time-trial performance.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Optimizing warm-up protocols is crucial for athletic performance.
• The role of inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) in enhancing cycling performance is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of an active cycling warm-up, with and without IMW, on 10-km cycling time-trial performance.
• To assess the effects of these warm-up strategies on physiological and perceptual responses during the time-trial.

Main Methods:

• Ten cyclists completed a habituation time-trial and three experimental time-trials: no warm-up (CONT), cycling warm-up (CYC), and cycling warm-up with IMW (CYC + IMW).
• The CYC protocol involved three 5-min bouts at increasing intensities relative to the gas exchange threshold.
• The IMW involved inspiratory efforts against a pressure-threshold load.

Main Results:

• Both CYC and CYC + IMW significantly improved time-trial performance compared to CONT.
• No significant differences in performance or physiological/perceptual responses were observed between CYC and CYC + IMW.
• IMW transiently increased maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), but this effect did not translate to improved time-trial outcomes.

Conclusions:

• An active cycling warm-up effectively enhances 10-km cycling time-trial performance.
• The addition of an inspiratory muscle warm-up does not provide additional performance benefits.
• Standard active warm-ups sufficiently prepare the inspiratory muscles for approximately 15-minute cycling efforts.