Influence of Exercise on Pulmonary Function tests in young individuals

Measurement of the ventilatory adaptation to exercise may provide useful information about the functional reserve capacity of the lungs in individuals with respiratory diseases. However it is essential to define the mode of response to exercise in a normal population before identifying the individuals with an abnormal response. Hence the present study aimed to study the influence of acute exercise on pulmonary function tests in normal young individuals.

A total of 100 students comprising of 50 males and 50 females in the age group of 18–21 years were divided into four groups based on their body mass index as Underweight, normal, overweight and obese individuals. Respiratory parameters (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1% and PEF) were measured at rest and after an incremental form of acute exercise in the bicycle ergometer.

No significant changes were observed in all the four groups before and after exercise in males. However the post exercise values of FVC and VC were reduced than the baseline values in overweight and obese females (p < 0.01).

Acute exercise did not significantly affect the respiratory parameters. However the body fat distribution of the individual may significantly influence the ventilatory response to acute exercise in otherwise healthy individuals.