Effects of twelve-week inspiratory muscle vs. plyometric training on pulmonary function and pupillary light reflex in youth middle-distance runners-a three-arm randomized controlled trial.
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Physical Education & Sports, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
- 2Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- 3Department of Physical Education Pedagogy, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior, India.
- 4Faculty of Sport and Exercise Science, UCLan University of Cyprus, Pyla, Cyprus.
- 5Montenergin Sports Academy, Podgorica, Montenegro.
- 6Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Arad, Romania.
- 7Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
- 8Department of Sports, Recreation and Wellness, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Hyderabad Campus, Modallaguda (V), Nandigama (M), Rangareddy, Telangana, India.
Abstract
Background
Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and plyometric exercise are established conditioning modalities that elicit distinct physiological adaptations, yet their comparative effects on respiratory function and autonomic regulation in youth athletes remain unclear. The pupillary light reflex (PLR) provides a non-invasive index of autonomic activity and may offer new insight into training-induced adaptations. This study examined the effects of a 12-week IMT versus plyometric training program on pulmonary function and PLR dynamics in youth middle-distance runners.Methods
Ninety youth middle-distance runners (aged 14-18 years) were randomly assigned to an IMT group (n = 30), a plyometric training group (n = 30), or a control group (n = 30). The prespecified primary outcome was forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁); secondary outcomes included other spirometry parameters (forced expiratory volume [FEV₁], forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity [FEV₁/FVC] ratio, peak expiratory flow [PEF], and maximal inspiratory pressure [MIP]) and PLR metrics (initial diameter, constriction velocity, maximum constriction, re-dilation velocity) served as secondary/exploratory outcomes. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks (no interim timepoint was assessed). Of 90 randomized participants, 86 (95.6%) completed the study and were included in the complete-case primary analysis.Results
IMT led to marked gains in FEV₁ (4.12 ± 0.23 to 4.45 ± 0.25 L, p < 0.001), FVC (4.89 ± 0.31 to 5.28 ± 0.33 L, p < 0.001), and PEF (628 ± 45 to 672 ± 48 L/min, p < 0.001). PLR constriction velocity also improved significantly (5.2 ± 0.8 to 6.1 ± 0.9 mm/s, p < 0.01). In comparison, plyometric training yielded modest but significant improvements in FEV₁ (4.08 ± 0.26 to 4.25 ± 0.28 L, p < 0.05) and increased PLR re-dilation velocity (3.1 ± 0.6 to 3.8 ± 0.7 mm/s, p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group.Conclusion
In this complete-case analysis, IMT produced greater adjusted improvements in pulmonary function than plyometric training in youth middle-distance runners, while both modalities were associated with distinct changes in pupillary light reflex indices (constriction velocity with IMT; re-dilation velocity with plyometric training) that may reflect differential autonomic adaptation. As running performance was not assessed, these findings should be interpreted as physiological rather than performance evidence, and the potential value of combining both modalities warrants prospective testing.
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BibTeX
@article{vinu2026effects,
title = {{Effects of twelve-week inspiratory muscle vs. plyometric training on pulmonary function and pupillary light reflex in youth middle-distance runners-a three-arm randomized controlled trial.}},
author = {Vinu W and Josyula Tejaswi and Dilshith Azeezul Kabeer and Debajit Karmakar and Ibnu Noufal Kambitta Valappil and Koulla Parpa and Borko Katanic and Vlad Adrian Geantă and Jolita Vveinhardt and Karuppasamy Govindasamy},
journal = {Frontiers in physiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphys.2026.1781766},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42952497},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of twelve-week inspiratory muscle vs. plyometric training on pulmonary function and pupillary light reflex in youth middle-distance runners-a three-arm randomized controlled trial.
AU - Vinu W
AU - Josyula Tejaswi
AU - Dilshith Azeezul Kabeer
AU - Debajit Karmakar
AU - Ibnu Noufal Kambitta Valappil
AU - Koulla Parpa
AU - Borko Katanic
AU - Vlad Adrian Geantă
AU - Jolita Vveinhardt
AU - Karuppasamy Govindasamy
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in physiology
DO - 10.3389/fphys.2026.1781766
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42952497
AB - Background Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and plyometric exercise are established conditioning modalities that elicit distinct physiological adaptations, yet their comparative effects on respiratory function and autonomic regulation in youth athletes remain unclear. The pupillary light reflex (PLR) provides a non-invasive index of autonomic activity and may offer new insight into training-induced adaptations. This study examined the effects of a 12-week IMT versus plyometric training program on pulmonary function and PLR dynamics in youth middle-distance runners.Methods Ninety youth middle-distance runners (aged 14-18 years) were randomly assigned to an IMT group (n = 30), a plyometric training group (n = 30), or a control group (n = 30). The prespecified primary outcome was forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁); secondary outcomes included other spirometry parameters (forced expiratory volume [FEV₁], forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity [FEV₁/FVC] ratio, peak expiratory flow [PEF], and maximal inspiratory pressure [MIP]) and PLR metrics (initial diameter, constriction velocity, maximum constriction, re-dilation velocity) served as secondary/exploratory outcomes. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks (no interim timepoint was assessed). Of 90 randomized participants, 86 (95.6%) completed the study and were included in the complete-case primary analysis.Results IMT led to marked gains in FEV₁ (4.12 ± 0.23 to 4.45 ± 0.25 L, p < 0.001), FVC (4.89 ± 0.31 to 5.28 ± 0.33 L, p < 0.001), and PEF (628 ± 45 to 672 ± 48 L/min, p < 0.001). PLR constriction velocity also improved significantly (5.2 ± 0.8 to 6.1 ± 0.9 mm/s, p < 0.01). In comparison, plyometric training yielded modest but significant improvements in FEV₁ (4.08 ± 0.26 to 4.25 ± 0.28 L, p < 0.05) and increased PLR re-dilation velocity (3.1 ± 0.6 to 3.8 ± 0.7 mm/s, p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group.Conclusion In this complete-case analysis, IMT produced greater adjusted improvements in pulmonary function than plyometric training in youth middle-distance runners, while both modalities were associated with distinct changes in pupillary light reflex indices (constriction velocity with IMT; re-dilation velocity with plyometric training) that may reflect differential autonomic adaptation. As running performance was not assessed, these findings should be interpreted as physiological rather than performance evidence, and the potential value of combining both modalities warrants prospective testing.
SN - 1664-042X
ER -