Changes in lung function during adolescence in athletes and non-athletes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lung function in Indian athletes and non-athletes during adolescence. For this, lung functions in 40 boys (twenty athletes and twenty non-athletes) in the age range of 13 to 16 years, were evaluated over a period of two years at yearly intervals. The variables studied were Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV), Inspiratory Capacity (IC) and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV). Our results suggest that the development of the lung during adolescence under proper nutritional and health conditions is governed by the process of growth with no or negligible additional effects of physical activity. It is summarized that physical activity during growth may increase endurance in respiratory muscles. However, the findings of this study does not reject the possibility that lung size may increase by a strenuous and prolonged strength training regimen during adolescence.