Abstract

Laboratory assessment was made during maximal and submaximal exercise on 16 endurance trained male runners with asthma (35+-9 yrs). 11 of these asthmatic athletes had recent performance times over a half-marathon, which were examined in light of the results from the laboratory tests. The VO2max of the group was 61.8+-6.3 ml/kg/min and the VEmax was 138.7+-24.7 l/min. These data were positively correlated to the degree of airflow obstruction, defined as the FEV1 (expressed as a percentage of predicted normal). The half-marathon performance times of 11 of the athletes ranged from those of recreational to elite runners. Race pace was correlated with VO2max (r=0.863) but the highest correlation was with running velocity at a blood lactate concentration of 2 mmol/l (r=0.971). The asthmatic athletes utilized 82+-4 VO2max during the half-marathon, which was correlated with the VO2max at 2 mmol/l blood lactate (r=0.817). The results of this study suggest that athletes with mild to moderate asthma can possess high VO2max values and can develop a high degree of endurance fitness, as defined by their ability to sustain a high percentage of VO2max over an endurance race. In athletes with more severe airflow obstruction, the maximum ventilation rate may be reduced and so VO2max may be impaired. The athletes in the present study have adapted to this limitation by being able to sustain a higher VO2max before the accumulation of blood lactate, which is an advantage during an endurance run. Verf.-Referat