Adaptability in nature – Are lungs moldable?

Adaptability of the healthy pulmonary system in delivering oxygen to meet the demands of various degrees of exercise has been a topic of considerable debate. One view holds that the respiratory system is not normally the most limiting factor in the delivery of oxygen, others hold the absence of structural adaptability to physical training cause of limitation of the pulmonary system.

Pulmonary Function Tests were done before & after maximal exercise testing to assess dynamic lung functions in two groups viz., athletes & non-athletes.

On studying the differences in dynamic lung functions in two groups of non-athletes and athletes, there was no difference in FVC& FEV1, before or after exercise testing in either. The other flow rates MMEF, PEFR, MEF 25% to 75% were on the higher side in trained subjects which was consistently maintained after exercise testing. A higher adaptability of the respiratory system to the training stimulus in the form of a higher elastic recoil pressure of the lungs and a lower resistance of medium to small airways is suggested as the mechanism of adaptability in this study.