Pulmonary Function And Endurance Performance In Triathlon

Abstract

Pulmonary function, which supplies adequate and instantaneous amounts of oxygen consumption, is associated with the exercise performance. Endurance athletes, such as triathlon and swimming, have a higher and prolonged demand than power athletes and non-athletes for gas exchange and ventilation during exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze pulmonary function and the relationship between pulmonary function and endurance performance in triathletes. METHODS: Twenty- four male subjects, aged 20-25 years old, were recruited and divided into triathletes (n=12), who participated in international competition, and non-athletic control (n=12) groups. Anthropometry and body fat were measured at rest. Pulmonary function tests were performed using a spirometry, including tidal volume (VT), vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second (FEV1) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV). Endurance performance tests were examined during treadmill exercise testing with respiratory gas analysis, including maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and time to exhaustion (TTE). Informed consent forms had been completed by all participants before the experiments started. RESULTS: All of baseline characteristics were not significantly different between two groups, except for the percentage of body fat (13.59 ±3.30 % and 19.70 ±4.73 %, p < .05 in triathletes and control groups). Triathletes had significantly higher pulmonary function in VT (0.80 ±0.20 vs 0.63 ±0.13 L, p < .05), FVC (5.09 ±0.50 vs 4.53 ±0.43 L, p < .05), and MVV (181.72 ±21.70 vs 157.97 ±17.83 L/min, p < .05) compared with the control group. Moreover, they had greater VO2max (66.90 ±4.93 vs 47.00 ±8.43 ml.min-1.kg-1) and higher TTE (1074.80 ±43.10 vs 782.40 ±92.30 secs) compared with their counterpart (p < .05). We also found that FVC, FEV1 and MVV were significantly correlated with VO2max in all subjects (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that triathletes had higher pulmonary function and some correlations existed in pulmonary function and VO2max, which may provide useful information for triathlon training.