Study note • PMID 34555068
Effects of specific inspiratory muscle training combined with whole-body endurance training program on balance in COPD patients: Randomized controlled trial.
Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.
ELI5
In plain language
This study aims to assess the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) combined with endurance training (ET) on balance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (randomized trial; n=18 participants).
Results section: no clear change in Time to exhaustion under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.
Takeaways
What the abstract suggests
- • Study question: This study aims to assess the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) combined with endurance training (ET) on balance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- • Results section: no clear change in Time to exhaustion under the tested conditions.
- • Population: n=18 participants.
- • Protocol cues (full paper): 8 weeks • 30 min • 5 min • 10 min.
Protocol
Protocol (as reported)
- • Intervention/exposure: inspiratory muscle training (vs control group).
- • Dose/time/duration cues found in the full paper: 8 weeks • 30 min • 5 min • 10 min.
- • Outcomes: Time to exhaustion.
- • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.
Fit
Who it helps, and who should skip it
Who it helps
- • Athletes similar to the study population (n=18 participants) working on breathing.
- • Athletes who can measure Time to exhaustion with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.
Who should skip
- • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
- • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.
Methods
What the study actually did
- • Design: randomized trial (randomized, parallel groups).
- • Population: n=18 participants.
- • Comparator: control group.
- • Outcomes measured: Time to exhaustion.
- • Protocol cues mentioned: 6 minutes • 30 min.
- • Source: PubMed PMID 34555068 (2021) — PloS one.
Full paper
What the full paper adds
- • Design features (paper): randomized, parallel groups.
- • Participants (paper): n=18 participants.
- • More protocol detail (paper): 8 weeks • 30 min • 5 min • 10 min.
- • Results section: no clear change in Time to exhaustion under the tested conditions.
Results excerpt
What the abstract reports
“After the training period, the experimental group demonstrated greater improvements in BBS (IMT+ET vs.”
Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.
Limits
Limitations & bias
- • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
- • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
- • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
- • This is performance information, not medical advice.
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