Concurrent training and pulmonary function in smokers

This study compared the effects of aerobic, resistance and concurrent aerobic and resistance training on pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory endurance in at-risk smokers. 50 sedentary, male smokers with pulmonary function impairments at risk for developing chronic lung diseases were randomly assigned to an aerobic (AerG;n=12), resistance (ResG;n=13), concurrent (ConG;n=13) or non-exercising control (NexG;n=12) group for 16 weeks. AerG subjects performed 45 min of aerobic exercise at 60%HR(max), ResG subjects performed 8 resistance exercises at 60%1-RM for 3 sets, 15 repetitions while ConG subjects performed both aerobic and resistance exercises. ANOVA revealed no significant difference between the groups in their pre-/post-test changes for FEV(1)/FVC ratio (AerG:-4.13%; ResG:-2.13%; ConG:-0.56%); FEF-50 (AerG:-4.59%; ResG:-7.62%; ConG:5.76%), FEF-75 (AerG:-2.36%; ResG:-7.62%; ConG:10.71%) and FEF 25-75 (AerG:-3.53%; ResG:-6.43%; ConG:7.63%). Significant differences were found between the groups in their pre-/post-test changes for FVC (AerG:8.05%; ResG:7.22%; ConG:11.55%), FEV(1) (Aer:9.60%;ResG:5.13%; ConG:12.10%), PEF (AerG: 11.29%; ResG:7.49%; ConG:20.18%), PIF (AerG:24.80%; ResG:19.41%; ConG:28.15%), IVC (AerG: 9.04%; ResG: 6.21%; ConG:16.35%), FEF-25 (AerG:5.88%; ResG:5.37%; ConG:11.88%) and cardiorespiratory fitness (AerG:25.44%; ResG:11.59%; ConG:22.83%). Post-hoc analysis revealed concurrent and aerobic training were equally effective at improving PIF and cardiorespiratory fitness with concurrent training most effective at improving FVC, FEV(1), PEF, IVC and FEF-25. This suggests synergy between aerobic and resistance exercise in preventing or reducing the detrimental effects of smoking while gaining the unique benefits of each mode of exercise.