Training the equine respiratory muscles: Inspiratory muscle strength.
Authors: Fitzharris Laura E, Hezzell Melanie J, McConnell Alison K, Allen Kate J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Training the Equine Respiratory Muscles Respiratory muscle strength has received scant attention in equine conditioning programmes despite its potential relevance to athletic performance. Fitzharris and colleagues investigated whether inspiratory muscle strength could be systematically improved through targeted training, using a two-phase prospective controlled trial with National Hunt Thoroughbreds. Phase 1 demonstrated that conventional race training alone increased inspiratory muscle strength index (IMSi) by approximately 16% over a three-month conditioning period (from 22.5 to 26 cmH₂O); phase 2 then compared horses assigned to either high-load or sham inspiratory muscle training (IMT) conducted five days weekly for ten weeks, revealing that only the high-load protocol produced significant gains, with IMSi reaching 34 cmH₂O compared to 26 cmH₂O in controls. These findings suggest that equine respiratory muscles respond to progressive loading in a similar manner to skeletal muscle, and that deliberate high-intensity inspiratory training may offer a novel conditioning tool beyond conventional exercise. Practitioners should recognise that respiratory muscle capacity is trainable and potentially modifiable, though further research across diverse disciplines and performance levels would be needed before integrating IMT into standard conditioning programmes.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Racing Thoroughbreds show measurable improvements in inspiratory muscle strength through conventional race training, suggesting respiratory conditioning occurs naturally during normal training programs
- •High-load inspiratory muscle training significantly enhances respiratory muscle strength beyond conventional exercise alone; this may offer a practical adjunct to improve athletic performance in racehorses
- •Inspiratory muscle training requires adequate training load to be effective—low-load protocols produce no measurable benefit, so protocols must be properly prescribed
Key Findings
- •Inspiratory muscle strength index increased significantly from unfit (22.5 cmH₂O) to race-fit state (26 cmH₂O) with conventional training alone (p=0.015)
- •High-load inspiratory muscle training produced significant IMSi increase to 34 cmH₂O (p=0.001), while low-load sham training showed no improvement (p=0.929)
- •Peak IMSi at study end was significantly higher in high-load group versus low-load control group (p=0.019)
- •Equine respiratory muscles respond to targeted training stimulus with measurable strength improvements over 10-week intervention period