Pulmonary function test results in young athletes and sedentary children

Physiological responses to exercise during the growth and development of children-athletes haven’t been established much. The aim of the study was to compare the results of pulmonary function test in children of middle childhood engaged in football and in sedentary children. Materials and Methods: The study included data from 66 male children aged 10-11 years, of which 50 children attended football sections; for more than 4 years (17); 2 to 4 years (19); less than 2 years (14). The control group consisted of 16 boys of the same age which do not have regular physical activity. We performed anthropometric evaluation that includes height and weight measurement; pulmonary function test was performed in accordance to ATS/ERS Guidelines. Statistical analysis performed with nonparametric tests. Results: The data of anthropometry had no significance difference in boys of different groups (increased BMI had the same prevalence in all groups). When football players and non-athletes are compared, pulmonary function test results such as VC, FVC, FEV1, MEF25-75 did not show any significant changes. Sings of bronchial obstruction were not found in both groups. The tidal volume difference was found in 1st and 4th groups [Mann-Whitney (MW), p=0,0059], 3rd and 4th groups [MW, p=0,0010]. The difference in minute respiratory volume was found in 1st and 4th groups [MW, p =0,0012], 2nd and 4th groups [MW, p=0,0074], 3rd and 4th groups [MW, p=0,0016]. This fact may be the evidence of fast respiratory system adaptation in boys of middle childhood during football training. Conclusion: Authors suggest that the respiratory pattern adaptation to a physical activity happens on early stages of the regular trainings