Effect of Flow-Resistive Inspiratory Muscle Training on The Severity of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction and Cycling Time-Trial Performance
Due to the lack of studies examining the impact of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on the severity of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and exercise performance, the specific aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of flow-resistive IMT on EIB severity and symptoms, short-acting beta-2-agonist medication use, operating lung volumes, respiratory and limb locomotor muscle deoxygenation during constant-load cycling exercise, exertional dyspnea, and cycling time-trial performance.
• Male and female, between the ages of 18 to 35 years.
• Required to be a competitive recreational or college athlete and have at least 1-2 years of cycling or biking experience.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5 to 28 kg/m\^2
• Considered moderately to highly active by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
• Have clinically treated mild to moderate persistent asthma and/or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), with a resting forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) \> 65% of predicted.
• A ≥ 10% drop in FEV1 after eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH).
• Prescribed short-acting β2-agonists (SABAs) by a physician.
• Comfortable not taking SABA before experimental visits.