Objectives This study aimed to examine the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on respiratory function and Para Fencing (PF) performance, and to investigate the relationship between a PF-specific wheelchair protocol and arm-crank ergometer performance. Design A pre-post intervention case series. Setting Laboratory-based assessments. Participants Five Para Fencing athletes with spinal cord injury (T1-L1), classified as classes A and B. Main outcome measures Pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory pressures (PEmax), cardiopulmonary exercise testing using an arm-crank ergometer, blood lactate peak, and performance in a PF-specific wheelchair protocol. Results Following six weeks of IMT, PImax and PEmax increased by 10.9% and 15.5%, respectively, indicating improved respiratory muscle strength. Blood lactate peak showed a large effect size (0.87) after training. A strong correlation was observed between the duration of the PF-specific protocol and peak oxygen uptake obtained from the arm-crank ergometer test (r = 0.90; p = 0.037). Conclusions Aerobic capacity appears to be strongly associated with PF performance. Although IMT significantly improved respiratory muscle function, its direct impact on sport-specific performance remains inconclusive in this sample. Highlights • Inspiratory muscle training improves respiratory muscle strength in para fencing athletes. • Aerobic capacity is strongly correlated with wheelchair fencing performance. • Inspiratory muscle training shows limited direct effects on sport-specific performance. • A specific wheelchair fencing protocol demonstrated ecological validity.
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