Acute Effects of Functional Inspiratory Muscle Training in Elite Male Volleyball Players
ConditionAthletic Performance
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexMale
Age18-25
SponsorGazi University
About this trial
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the acute effects of a single session of functional inspiratory muscle training on muscle oxygenation, exercise capacity, dynamic balance, and agility in elite male volleyball players aged 18 to 25 years. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an intervention group or a no-intervention control group. The intervention group will perform 60 resisted breaths at 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure using a POWERbreathe device during a sport-specific fixed-ball throwing drill. Both groups will complete assessments before and immediately after the intervention period on the same day. Quadriceps muscle oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin will be measured using a Moxy near-infrared spectroscopy monitor during the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test. Exercise capacity, dynamic balance, and agility will be assessed using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, Star Excursion Balance Test, and T-Test, respectively.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Male, aged 18 to 25 years
Regular participation in volleyball training
University student actively playing on an elite-level volleyball team
Regular training during the previous 3 months
Disqualifiers
Current smoking or regular alcohol use
Regular use of medication or vitamin supplements
History of upper respiratory tract infection or COVID-19 within the previous 3 months
Lower-extremity or shoulder surgery within the previous 6 months
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Functional Inspiratory Muscle Training With POWERbreathe
DeviceA POWERbreathe pressure-threshold inspiratory muscle training device is used during a sport-specific fixed-ball throwing drill after warm-up. Before training, maximal inspiratory pressure is measured using a mouth pressure meter. The device resistance is individualized at 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure. Participants complete two sets of 30 resisted inspirations, totaling 60 breaths, over approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Expiration is unrestricted. The intervention is delivered once.
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Functional Inspiratory Muscle TrainingExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: No-Intervention ControlNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in Quadriceps Total Hemoglobin During the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test
Total hemoglobin (THb, g/dL) will be recorded continuously using a Moxy near-infrared spectroscopy monitor positioned over the midpoint of the right quadriceps femoris. Mean THb will be summarized separately for the pre-exercise rest, exercise, and recovery phases of the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test. For each phase, change will be calculated as the post-intervention value minus the pre-intervention value. The primary comparison will be the difference in pre-to-post change between the intervention and control groups.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the single-session intervention or control period, within the same day2
Change in Quadriceps Muscle Oxygen Saturation During the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test
Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2, %) will be recorded continuously using a Moxy near-infrared spectroscopy monitor positioned over the midpoint of the right quadriceps femoris. Mean SmO2 will be summarized separately for the pre-exercise rest, exercise, and recovery phases of the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test. For each phase, change will be calculated as the post-intervention value minus the pre-intervention value. The primary comparison will be the difference in pre-to-post change between the intervention and control groups.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the single-session intervention or control period, within the same daySecondary outcomes
1
Change in Incremental Shuttle Walk Test Distance
Functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test on a 10-meter course with externally paced speed increments of 0.17 m/s each minute. Total distance will be recorded in meters. Change will be calculated as post-intervention distance minus pre-intervention distance, and the change will be compared between groups. A greater distance indicates better exercise capacity.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the single-session intervention or control period, within the same day2
Change in Normalized Star Excursion Balance Test Reach Distance
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test while the participant stands on the dominant leg and reaches with the opposite leg in eight directions. Three trials will be performed in each direction, and the longest reach distance will be recorded in centimeters. Each direction will be normalized to limb length as reach distance divided by limb length multiplied by 100 and reported as a percentage. Pre-to-post change in each normalized direction will be compared between groups. Higher values indicate better dynamic balance.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the single-session intervention or control period, within the same day3
Change in T-Test Agility Completion Time
Agility will be assessed using the T-Test, which requires forward running, lateral shuffling, and backward running over a 40-meter course. Completion time will be recorded in seconds, and the best valid time at each assessment will be used. Change will be calculated as post-intervention time minus pre-intervention time and compared between groups. A lower completion time indicates better agility performance.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the single-session intervention or control period, within the same daySponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov