Inspiratory Muscle Performance and Its Correlates Among Division I American Football Players

Background: Inspiratory muscle performance plays a crucial role in athletic demands, yet its associations with anthropometric and positional variables in American football remain underexplored. This study examined relationships between inspiratory metrics and key characteristics in Division I collegiate football players. Methods: Eighty-five Division I collegiate football players (mean academic year in school: 2.87; height: 74.3 inches; weight: 108.13 kg; BMI: 30.21) underwent the Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE) to measure maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), sustained maximal inspiratory pressure (SMIP), and inspiratory duration (ID). Bivariate and multivariate analyses assessed associations with height, weight, BMI, year in school, offense/defense status, and playing position. Results: Inspiratory performance showed limited associations with anthropometric variables, with only a weak correlation between height and ID. (ρ = 0.243, p = 0.024). No significant differences were observed by year in school or position Conclusions: Inspiratory performance appears largely independent of anthropometric and positional factors; future research should explore targeted respiratory training as a hypothesis rather than a confirmed benefit.