Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of training of kayakers on their pulmonary function based on the measurements of spirometric indices and to determine values thereof due to kayakers. Seventy-nine male kayakers from the national and Olympic teams going in for sprint and slalom kayaking participated in the study. Physical characteristics of the subjects were as follows: age 16-24 (mean 18.8 ± 2.2) years, body mass 58-95 (mean 77.7 ± 8.2) kg, height 169-197 (mean 181.2 ± 6.7) cm, training history 2-15 (mean 7.2 ± 2.6) years. Functional respiratory tests were performed using a computerized spirometer. Statistical analysis of the results obtained during the long-term, repeatedly performed studies revealed that values of FEV1, MEF25, MEF50, MEF75, PEF, VC, ERV, and MVV equaled to 112 %, 118 %, 117 %, 110 %, 122 %, 118 %, 138 %, and 119 %, respectively, of the corresponding predicted values for members of the average Caucasian population whose pulmonary function most strongly depends on the body height and age. In the kayakers the values of the tested indices changed in a straight linear manner and increased with age. In these subjects the regression plotted for the predicted and measured values relative to age ran at a significantly higher level that that obtained for non-training individuals (predicted values). In case of MVV and ERV, variation in changes of these indices with age was noted (F=9.81, p < 0.01 and F=7.39, p < 0.01, respectively). The values of FEV1 and VC most strongly correlated with the body mass and height (r=0.60, p < 0.001 and r=0.68, p < 0.001, respectively) and the values of MEF75, PEF, and MVV with the body mass (r=0.45, p < 0.001, r=0.45, p < 0.001 and r=0.58, p < 0.001, respectively). The values of these indices derived from the elaborated nomograms were by 11 %, 12 %, 22 %, 18 % and 18 % for FEV1, MEF75, PEF, VC and MVV, respectively, higher than the corresponding values predicted for the average Caucasian population and considerably closer to the values actually measured in the tested kayakers. Presumably, the verified reference values of the basic spirometric indices estimated in the kayakers will answer the needs of this type of sport. Verf.-Referat