Effect of endurance training on lung function: a one year study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify in a follow up study airway changes occurring during the course of a sport season in healthy endurance athletes training in a Mediterranean region.


METHODS
Respiratory pattern and function were analysed in 13 healthy endurance trained athletes, either during a maximal exercise test, or at rest and during recovery through respiratory manoeuvres (spirometry and closing volume tests). The exercise test was conducted on three different occasions: during basic endurance training and then during the precompetition and competitive periods.


RESULTS
During the competitive period, a slight but non-clinically significant decrease was found in forced vital capacity (-3.5%, p = 0.0001) and an increase in slope of phase III (+25%, p = 0.0029), both at rest and after exercise. No concomitant reduction in expiratory flow rates was noticed. During maximal exercise there was a tachypnoeic shift over the course of the year (mean (SEM) breathing frequency and tidal volume were respectively 50 (2) cycles/min and 3.13 (0.09) litres during basic endurance training v 55 (3) cycles/min and 2.98 (0.10) litres during the competitive period; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not provide significant evidence of lung function impairment in healthy Mediterranean athletes after one year of endurance training.
Kippelen
P
P
UPRES EA 701, Physiologie des Interactions, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, F-34295 Montpellier, France.
Caillaud
C
C
Robert
E
E
Connes
P
P
Godard
P
P
Prefaut
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology