Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions in athletes: differences by BMI classifications

Background and objective: The respiratory capacity, which substantially affects exercise performance, tends to be affected by many factors such as anthropometric characteristics and different sports branches. We know which body mass index (BMI) category negatively affects pulmonary functions (PFs) in sedentary, but it is unclear in the athlete population. Thus, the first aim of this study was to compare respiratory muscle strength (RMS) and PFs in athletes according to BMI categories. Furthermore, we examined whether different sports disciplines affect RMS and PFs as a second aim in the study. Methods: Athletes were divided into four groups according to BMI categories ( $<$ 18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25.0–29.9, and $\geq$ 30.0 kg/m ${}^{2}$ ) and two groups (individual and team) according to their sport disciplines. Results: The results showed that significant differences in MIP (cmH ${}_{2}$ O), MEP (cmH ${}_{2}$ O), FVC (lt), and FEV ${}_{1}$ (lt) scores according to BMI categories (p $<$ 0.001 and p $<$ 0.05). We found that the highest RMS scores were in the 18.5–24.9 and 25.0–29.9 kg/m ${}^{2}$ BMI categories (p $<$ 0.001 and p $<$ 0.05). Also, it was revealed that individual athletes’ MIP, MEP, FVC, and FEV ${}_{1}$ scores were higher than others in sports disciplines (p $<$ 0.001 and p $<$ 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that athletes’ best RMS and PFs scores can be obtained in the 18.5–24.9 or 25.0–29.9 kg/m ${}^{2}$ BMI categories. Accordingly, we consider that different BMI values have varied effects on the athletes’ respiratory capacities and should be kept under constant control. Also, individual athletes had the highest RMS and PFs due to the characteristics of sports disciplines.

Keywords

Body mass index

Respiratory functions

Sports disciplines

Individual athletes

Team athletes

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Fig. 1.

Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions according to BMI categories in athletes [ $<$ 18.5 ${}_{\bm{(n=10)}}$ ; 18.5–24.9 ${}_{\bm{(n=190)}}$ ; 25.0–29.9 ${}_{\bm{(n=23)}}$ ; $\geq$ 30.0 ${}_{\bm{(n=8)}}$ ]. All data were expressed as median (min–max). (A) Respiratory muscle strength. (B,C) Pulmonary functions (n = 231). ${}^{a,b}$ No significant differences between groups that share the same letter. **p $<$ 0.001; *p $<$ 0.05; ns, non-significant; MIP, Maximal inspiratory pressure; MEP, Maximal expiratory pressure; FVC, Forced vital capacity; FEV ${}_{1}$ , Forced vital capacity at 1 second; MVV, Maximal voluntary ventilation.

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J. Mens. Health Print ISSN 1875-6867 Electronic ISSN 1875-6859