5 Benefits of Inspiratory Muscle Training

Pro2FIT
Pro2FIT
Nov 2 · 3 min read

What’s Inspiratory Muscle Training (a.k.a. “IMT”)—and how can it help any fitness enthusiast get to the next level?

IMT is a method of training that’s been around for decades in the medical and sports environments, which involves training the muscles you use to breathe in air.

If you’re used to strength training and running on the treadmill, you should be incorporating IMT into your routine. In fact, many professional runners, sports players, swimmers and triathletes are already using IMT to enhance their performance.

So, before you brush off IMT and go back to your normal routine, let’s look at some of its benefits.

1. Sports Performance Enhancement

If you want a competitive edge when running, playing sports or swimming, IMT can help. Through resisted breath-training, you’ll be able to increase your lung capacity so that you don’t get out of breath as quickly.

Everything from playing basketball with friends to running a marathon or running up stairs is easier with higher lung capacity.

2. Fast Results

No one likes going to the gym and barely seeing results. IMT studies show that within six to eight weeks, you’ll see a significant increase in lung capacity and strength. You’ll see results fast with IMT.

3. Lower Blood Pressure

So, what else happens in six weeks? A study by the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, at University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., found that systolic blood pressure levels dropped when participants used IMT.

Exercising alone will not come close to this level. Typically, exercise alone only drops blood pressure levels by 50% of the amount that dropped with IMT.

4. Cognitive Enhancement

Put down the nootropics. If you want to boost cognition, strengthening your breathing muscles can help. When you increase your lung capacity and strengthen your breathing muscles, you’re able to also improve cognition.

Studies into higher oxygen concentrations show that higher levels of oxygen positively impacts cognitive performance.

Oxygen is also the key component of muscle recovery.

5. Backed by Extensive Research

Want more info? Take a look at some IMT research, below, with studies on:

  • Ice hockey players
  • Rowers
  • Repetitive sprinters

Research has shown that IMT can help:

  • Improve performance
  • Increase lung volume
  • Boost contracted diaphragm thickness
  • Help patients with heart failure

Ready to take a deeper dive into the benefits of Inspiratory Muscle Training? Visit our website to learn how just 30 minutes of IMT — three times per week — can help you reach your peak performance.


Research Articles

Mickleborough et al. SJMSS
Study using IMT with recreational runners.

Effect of High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training on Lung Volumes, Diaphragm Thickness, and Exercise Capacity in Subjects Who Are Healthy
The findings of this study suggest that high-intensity IMT results in increased contracted diaphragm thickness and increased lung volumes and exercise capacity in people who are healthy.

Cycling 2004
Inspiratory resistive loading improves cycling capacity.

IMT in Ice Hockey
IMT in Ice Hockey Revised final manuscript — Textual Paper — Hockey

Healthy Subjects
Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on healthy subjects.

IMT relative to Heart Failure
Expert Reviews IMT in HF — Inspiratory Muscle Training effects on Heart Disease and Heart Failure (Pre-Press Final Copy)

Rowing Performance
Study of IMT in rowing performance.

Repetitive Sprint Activity
Study of IMT in repetitive sprint activity.

IMT Overview (ice hockey study)
Dan Boothby of Northeastern University provides a testimonial on how and why Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) works.

Pro2FIT

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Pro2FIT

Live life to its fullest with Pro2FIT—boost endurance, athletic performance and breathing muscle strength in 4 to 6 weeks with #InspiratoryMuscleTraining!

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