Assessment of Ventilatory Performance of Athletes Using the Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve

Abstract

We carried out a maximum expiratory flow-volume curve (MEFV) and a spirometric recording with 67 athletes of different ages (15-27 years) and disciplines (rowers, kayakists, cyclists, swimmers) and with 20 adult and 13 adolescent nonathletic controls of matching ages. These recordings were repeated, with athletes only, after 6-10 months of training. Significant differences between the groups of adult athletes and the controls were observed for some parameters, the most discriminating of which were, in order, the peak expiratory flow (PEF), the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), and the flow at 75% of the vital capacity (V75). The vital capacity (VC) itself was only higher in the rowers group. The adult athletes, when grouped together (n = 47), produced a higher flow at 50% of their VC (V50) than the control group (+15%, P less than 0.05) with no difference in the flow at 25% of VC (V25) nor in the VC. A study of the effects of training showed no evolution among high level athletes while increases of 14% of the PEF, 5% of the V75, and 7% of the FEV1 were found after 7-10 months of training in adolescents; the VC increased during that time by only 2.7%. The reproducibility of these ventilatory parameters after 6-8 months was studied with adult athletes. The upper limit of the variation (95% CLl) was 12% for the FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC), 18% for PEF, 21% for V75 and V50, and 40% for V25.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of a 12-Week Swimming-Training on Spirometric parametersVariables in Teenage Females

“…Studies comparing respiratory function among people engaged in different sports found that female and male swimmers have higher VC and FVC than athletes of other sports, as well as sedentary controls (Cordain et al, 1990;Kesavachandran, Nair, & Shashidhar, 2001;Phervani, Desai, & Solepure, 1989). It was found that flow rates such as PEF, MEF50, and MEF 25 are higher for male and female swimmers than others, and the swimmers showed increased conductivity of large and small airways and higher speeds of respiratory-muscle contraction (Bertholon et al, 1986;Phervani et al). Bertholon et al found that FEV1 is higher in athletes than sedentary controls.…”

“…These findings are supported by the investigations of other authors (Kesavachandran et al; Phervani et al). Higher FEV1 for swimmers indicates higher conductivity of large airways as a result of increased VC, which allows greater airflow through the airways during the first second of expiration and inspiration (Bertholon et al;Wells, Plyley, Thomas, Goodman, & Duffin, 2005). Higher FIV1 indicates important adaptations of the respiratory system that enable a swimmer to inhale more air during a short time while swimming.…”

“…Several investigations have found that swimmers have higher vital capacity (Cordain, Tucker, Moon, & Stager, 1990;Tzelepis, Kasas, & McCool, 1999) and flow rates (Bertholon, Carles, & Teillac, 1986;Doherty & Dimitriou, 1997) than land-based athletes. Authors have described the changes in spirometric parameters caused by swimming training for competitive swimmers (Bertholon et al;Clanton, Dixon, Drake, & Gadek, 1987), but little is known about changes in lung volumes and flow rates related to swimming instruction for nonswimmers.…”

“…Authors have described the changes in spirometric parameters caused by swimming training for competitive swimmers (Bertholon et al;Clanton, Dixon, Drake, & Gadek, 1987), but little is known about changes in lung volumes and flow rates related to swimming instruction for nonswimmers.…”

Influência de diferentes tipos de bocais e diâmetros de traqueias na manovacuometria

“…Os valores obtidos podem estar diminuídos em relação ao previsto quando o paciente apresenta doenças neuromusculares, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), fibrose cística e insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, podendo ser também um indicativo de má nutrição, doenças endócrinas associadas ao colágeno e uma das consequências de um longo tratamento com medicamentos à base de corticoesteroides (4). Contudo, os valores das mensurações podem ser maiores em indivíduos sadios que se submetem regularmente a treinamento físico (16,17).…”