Specific inspiratory muscle warm-up enhances badminton footwork performance

The effects of inspiratory muscle (IM) warm-up on IM function and on the maximum distance covered in a subsequent incremental badminton-footwork test (FWmax) were examined. Ten male badminton players were recruited to perform identical tests in three different trials in a random order. The control trial did not involve an IM warm-up, whereas the placebo and experimental trials did involve an IM warm-up consisting of two sets of 30-breath manoeuvres with an inspiratory pressure-threshold load equivalent to 15% (PLA) and 40% (IMW) maximum inspiratory mouth pressure, respectively. In the IMW trial, IM function was improved with 7.8% +/- 4.0% and 6.9% +/- 3.5% increases from control found in maximal inspiratory pressure at zero flow (P-0) and maximal rate of PO development (MRPD), respectively (p < 0.05). FWmax was enhanced 6.8% +/- 3.7%, whereas the slope of the linear relationship of the increase in the rating of perceived breathlessness for every minute (RPB/min) was reduced (p < 0.05). Reduction in blood lactate ([La-](b)) accumulation was observed when the test duration was identical to that of the control trial (P < 0.05). In the PLA trial, no parameter was changed from control. For the changes (0) in parameters in IMW (n = 10), negative correlations were found between Delta P-0 and Delta RPB/min (r(2) = 0.58), Delta MRPD and Delta RPB/min (r(2) = 0.48), Delta RPB/min, and Delta FWmax (r(2) = 0.55), but not between 0[La]b accumulation and Delta FWmax. Such findings suggest that the IM-specific warm-up improved footwork performance in the subsequent maximum incremental badminton-footwork test. The improved footwork was partly attributable to the reduced breathless sensation resulting from the enhanced IM function, whereas the contribution of the concomitant reduction in [La]b accumulation was relatively minor.