Research summary · Women in sport
Inspiratory versus expiratory training in adolescent volleyball
Twenty-six adolescent female volleyball players were randomized to inspiratory or expiratory muscle training for four weeks, performed twice daily on five days per week alongside regular sport training.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Randomized comparative trial
- Journal
- BMC Pediatrics
- Population / context
- Adolescent female volleyball
What the publication reports
Diaphragm thickness and maximal respiratory pressures increased over time in both groups, without clear group-by-time differences. Diaphragm stiffness and respiratory endurance did not improve clearly; neither training approach showed convincing superiority.
Limits and interpretation
The small, short trial was retrospectively registered and lacked a usual-training-only control. Changes cannot be attributed solely to the added breathing exercises, and a nonsignificant comparison does not establish equivalence. Volleyball performance and long-term effects were not demonstrated.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Comparative effects of inspiratory and expiratory muscle training on diaphragm adaptations and respiratory function in adolescent athletes: a randomized-controlled study
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42870242DOI: 10.1186/s12887-026-07817-zFull text at the sourceReader discussion
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