Rabobank Cycling Team

1. Rabobank Cycling Team • Mathieu Heijboer, Trainer Continental team (development team) • Gerard Rietjens, Exercise Physiologist • K3 and K5 • Used extensively by Continental Team members (10 out of 17 bought a K3) • Used by Pro team (11 out of 27 bought a K3) • They have 1 K5 units for each team • Results positive

2. Rabobank Cycling Team Mathieu Heijboer has done some detailed measurements and developments on IMT and recommends: • Selection based above average breathing frequency (>29/min) • Intake screening by osteopath on diaphragm mobility • 3-step phasing (technique, strength, functionality) (Click on picture for presentation)

3. Netherlands Synchronised Swimming • Leonie Cornielje, Coach • Rik v/d Kolk, team fysician • Kees van Hardeveld, Technical Director KNZB • K3 • Used 2 K3 units from the Waterpolo team • Extensive training since November 2011 • Results: very positive, good compliance

4. Netherlands Synchronised Swimming • 10 weeks of technique and strength training with POWERbreathe • 4 weeks of ‘functional’ training; 3 minute training timed to both kürs. (click on image for video)

5. Belgian Swimming Federation (VZF) • Stefan Deckx, Strength & Conditioning trainer • Vincent Vanbelle, team fysician • Lode Grosen, Director VZF • K3 and K5 • Using K3 extensively for training, K5 units for Olympian athletes • Very enthousiastic and committed team • Results: very positive. See next slides for results / impact on breathing frequency.

6. Belgian Swimming Federation

7. Netherlands Cycling Team (KNWU) • Tim Heemskerk, Coach Mountainbike • Eelke v/d Wal, Coach paralympic team • Tjeerd de Vries, fysician • Thorwald Veneberg, Technical Director KNWU • Jabik Bastiaans, exercise fysiologist • K3 and K5 • Supervised trials with various groups. • See next 7 slides:

8. Proef Ademspiertraining Februari – Mei, 2012

9. Uitgangspunten Opzet : • 14 participants • 9 weeks training; 2 x 30 reps per day • Intensity 40% to 50% of S-Index • Periodisation in 3 sections; technique, strength and functionality • POWERbreathe model K3 and K5 Measurements: • S-Index measurement wk 0, 3, 6 en 9 • Evaluationforms week 9 IMT, why?: • Strengthening breathing muscles and training of breathing technique • Makes breathing during exercise easier and deeper • Postpones Metaboreflex¹, improves performance² and speeds recovery³ ¹ = McConnell (J.Physiol.2006) ²= Romer et al (J.Sport Science, 2002) ³= Brown (MSS 2010)

10. Observaties Participation: • Participants: 11 of 14 (3 lost) • Evaluation forms: 9 of 11 (2 did not fill out the form) • Trainingcompliance: 8 of 11 (3 participants too little training volume) Results: • Strength: +12.5% average increase of S-Index • Breathvolume: +26.2% average increase Volume Evaluation: • Conclusion 6 of 9 Positive, 1 negative en 2 neutral Other: • Participants strong preference for K5 units over K3; all remark to get better results and easier training on K5! Influence of visual feedback???

11. Conclusions • IMT results in an increase in breathing strength and breath volume, participants are positive about the training • IMT is found acceptable to incorporate in training schedules and did not result in physical complaints (with 1 exception) • Compliance is affecting results and perception: • Strength increase: S-Index +19.4% in compliant group versus +12.5% for all • “positive judgment”: Score 83.2 in compliant group versus 70.5 for all “Yes, I am much more aware of my breathing during cycling. At high intensities I am now able to better pace my breathing and focus on the rest” AlydaNorbruis (gold medal Segovia June 2012)

12. Meting: S-Index en Volume

13. Antwoorden Vragenlijst

14. Netherlands Female Field Hockey team • Max Caldas, Coach KNHB • Conny van Bentum, team fysician • Johannes Veen, fysiotherapist • Arno den Hartog, Director Tophockey KNHB • K3 with selected players • Bought 4 K3 units to try with players that have breathing difficulties and / or (exercise induced) asthma • Results mixed: 1 player training, 4 players stopped due to various complaints. Recognize benefits but feel other aspects of training more important

15. Netherlands Triathlon team • John Hellemans, Coach • Eric v/d Linden, development coach • Adrie Berk, Technical Director NTB • Bjorn Cals, fysiotherapist • K3 and K5 • Used by the National Selection since December 2011 • Potentially to be adopted as standard in development training • Recognise benefits but struggling with compliance and periodisation (when to train, volume of training) • Both Olympic athletes now training with K5

16. Belgium Triathlon Team • Reinout van Schuylebergh, Coach • K5 • Bought 2 K5 units for top athletes and Olympic potentials

17. Netherlands Track & Field team • Honoré Hoedt, Coach Middle / Long distance runners • John IJzerman, team fycisian • Peter Verlooy, Technical Director Netherlands Athletic Union • K3 and K5 • Bought K3 and K5 for top selected athletes on various distances • Recognise benefits but struggling with compliance and periodisation (when to train, volume of training) • Results: mixed, more focused placed on altitude training

18. Commentary Plusses • Good progress at various Netherlands and Belgium Federations • High level contacts • Starting to get some “Rumour around the brand” • Potential to have IMT adopted as standard element of training Minuses • Struggling with athlete motivation and compliance • Struggling with periodisation / tapering • Struggling to make IMT ‘purposeful’; setting targets and revealing progress Requires supervision and high maintenance!