Ventilatory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness and pulmonary function in world-class powerlifters.
OBJECTIVE
Resistance training activates the ventilatory muscles providing a stimulus similar to ventilatory muscle training. We examined the effects of elite powerlifting training upon ventilatory muscle strength, pulmonary function and diaphragm thickness in world-class powerlifters (POWER) and a control group (CON) with no history of endurance or resistance training, matched for age, height and body mass.


METHODS
Body composition was assessed using single-frequency bioelectrical impedance. Maximal static volitional inspiratory (P(I,max)) and expiratory (P(E,max)) mouth pressures, diaphragm thickness (T(di)) derived from ultrasound measurements and pulmonary function from maximal flow volume loops were measured.


RESULTS
There were no differences in physical characteristics or pulmonary function between groups. P(I,max) (22 %, P < 0.05, effect size d = 1.13), P(E,max) (16 %, P = 0.07, effect size d = 0.86) and T(di) (27 %, P < 0.01, effect size d = 1.59) were greater in POWER than CON. Correlations were observed between both T(di) and P(I,max) (r = 0.518, P < 0.05), T(di) and P(E,max) (r = 0.671, P < 0.01) and T(di) and body mass (r = 0.502, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that manoeuvres performed by world-class powerlifters improve ventilatory muscle strength and increases diaphragm size. Whole-body resistance training may be an appropriate training mode to attenuate the effects of ventilatory muscle weakness experienced with ageing and some disease states.
English Institute of Sport, Loughborough, UK, peter.brown@eis2win.co.uk.
Peter I
PI
Brown
Heather K
HK
Venables
Hymsuen
H
Liu
Julie T
JT
de-Witt
Michelle R
MR
Brown
Mark A
MA
Faghy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D055070:Resistance Training; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D014463:Ultrasonography