---
title: Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) in Athletes
nct_id: NCT00968448
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: Universität des Saarlandes
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Running Endurance
countries: Germany
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT00968448.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00968448"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2011-01-05
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:44:36.185Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) in Athletes

**NCT ID:** [NCT00968448](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00968448)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 40
- **Lead Sponsor:** Universität des Saarlandes
- **Conditions:** Running Endurance
- **Start Date:** 2009-08
- **Completion Date:** 2011-01
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2011-01-05

## Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine weather well trained athletes benefit from inspiratory (respiratory) muscle training.

## Detailed Description

* Subject: The investigators intend to include 40 well trained runners, 18 years or older.
* Design: Following lung function and exercise testing (incremental treadmill test to exhaustion, 5000m run time trial) participants will be randomly assigned to a verum or a control group. The verum group will train with a hand-held, commercially available pressure threshold loading device (POWERbreathe,UK). The control group will perform a sham-training with the same device. After six to eight weeks the the initial tests will be repeated.
* Hypothesis: Inspiratory muscle training enhances performance on submaximal work loads and in the 5000m run time trial by changes in breathing pattern. Maximum oxygen uptake remains unchanged.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** Yes

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* well trained runners

Exclusion Criteria:

* previous respiratory muscle training
* cardiovascular diseases
* impaired lung function
```

## Arms

- **Training** (ACTIVE_COMPARATOR) — respiratory muscle training (pressure threshold loading)
- **sham training** (SHAM_COMPARATOR) — training with low resistance

## Interventions

- **Respiratory muscle training** (BEHAVIORAL) — Daily training with a handheld device (Pressure threshold loading). 1x50 breaths with adjustments (gradually increasing levels).
- **Sham training** (BEHAVIORAL) — Sham training with same handheld device. 50 breaths daily on the lowest level

## Primary Outcomes

- **performance in the 500m run time trial** _(time frame: 6-8 weeks)_

## Secondary Outcomes

- **maximum inspiratory pressure** _(time frame: 6-8- weeks)_

## Locations (1)

- Universität des Saarlands, Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.universität des saarlands|saarbrücken|saarland|germany` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT00968448.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00968448*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*