@Article{Sánchez-Infante2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
year="2026",
title="Effect of inspiratory muscle training in different sports modalities: A systematic review with meta-analysis",
abstract="  Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) plays a significant role in sports performance. The scientific literature indicates that by assessing maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), athletes can improve respiratory muscle function, thus enhancing overall performance and endurance. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the effects of inspiratory muscle training on the variable MIP in continuous and intermittent sports disciplines. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to June 30, 2024, on randomized controlled trials of different sports disciplines, collecting results on MIP in which one group received inspiratory muscle training and compared it with a control/placebo-group. Two authors used a customized form to collect the data relevant to each article independently. After screening for eligibility, 59-articles measuring MIP after an IMT intervention in athletes were used for the meta-analysis. Two meta-analyses were performed, one for intermittent sports and one for continuous sports. The meta-analysis found that IMT exhibited moderate-quality evidence suggesting a large effect (SMD = 1.28; 95% CI = 0.90 to 1.67; n = 381; Z = 6.52; P \< 0.001) on MIP in the intermittent sports with high heterogeneity (I2  = 62%) when compared with a control/placebo-group. The meta-analysis found that IMT exhibited moderate-quality evidence suggesting a large effect (SMD = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.93 to 1.42; n = 669; Z = 9.56; P \< 0.001) on MIP in the continuous sports with moderate heterogeneity (I2  = 45%) when compared with a control/placebogroup. In conclusion, inspiratory muscle training using dedicated devices appears to enhance MIP in athletes participating in both intermittent and continuous sports. ",
author="Sánchez-Infante, Jorge
and Bravo-Sánchez, Alfredo
and Ramírez-delaCruz, María
and Abián, Pablo
and Jiménez, Fernando
and Abián-Vicén, Javier",
pages="171--199",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2027.165052",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2027.165052"
}