The effect of inspiratory muscle training along with aerobic exercises on physical fitness and quality of life in overweight sedentary women: Randomized Controlled Trial

The study is an experimental randomized controlled trial  to evaluate the impact of combining inspiratory muscle training with aerobic activity over a 6 week period in overweight sedentary females

1 Participant Selection

A total of 30 overweight sedentary women will be recruited for the study based on specific eligibility requirements

physical consent will be taken from the participants for the research

Inclusion Criteria

1 Women aged 20 to 40 years

2 Body Mass Index (BMI) between 23.0 and 24.9 kg/m^2 (overweight for Asian populations)

3 Willingness to participate

4 rate of perceived exertion (Borg scale) of less than 13

5 maximum inspiratory pressure less than 80 cm H2O

Exclusion Criteria

1 Known respiratory or cardiovascular disorders

2 Musculoskeletal issues involving the thorax or lower limbs

3 Psychological disorders

4 Already participating in a structured exercise program or engaging in activities with a MET value greater than 3

2 Randomization

After an initial pre-evaluation, eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two groups using simple random sampling

Group A (Experimental Group) 33 participants receiving combined training Group B (Control Group) 34 participants receiving aerobic exercise only

3 Intervention Protocol

Both groups will follow a protocol for 3 days per week for 6 weeks. Each session lasts 20 to 60 minutes and includes a 5 to 10 minute warm-up and a 5–10 minute cool-down

Group A (Experimental) Aerobic and Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT)

Aerobic  usingTreadmill training and static cycling

IMT Using a threshold device for 3 series of 10 repetitions with 2minute intervals. Resistance starts at 40% of Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) in week 1 and increasing gradually by week 3 and week 5

Group B (Control): Aerobic Exercise Only

Participants will perform the same aerobic conditioning (treadmill and cycling)

4 Outcome Measures

Participants will be assessed at the start (Day 1) and at the end of the 6th week

Physical Fitness (Primary) Measured by VO2 max using the Queens College Step Test which calculates cardiovascular endurance based on recovery heart rate

Quality of Life (Primary) Evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire

Inspiratory muscle Strength (secondary) using Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) will also be recorded to track improvements in inspiratory muscle strength