Abstract

In an assessment of the influence of sport on pulmonary ventilatory function, a comparison was made between the ventilatory parameters of 202 athletes aged 11-19 yr engaged in competitive sport and their sedentary peers from the same region. Significantly greater FVC, FEV1, MMEF, and FEF75 values were noted in the athletes, whereas TLC and MBC values were very much the same in both groups. In addition, the RV was significantly and greatly reduced in the athletes. The volumetric and expiratory flow differences thus observed are seen as the result of more effective mobilisation of the diaphragm, leading to increased basal ventilation, and greater conductance of the distal airways, in addition to a smaller amount of stagnant air. Verf.-Referat