Comparison of Respiratory Functions of Athletes Engaged in Different Sports Branches

The purpose of this study was to research pulmonary functions of sedentary males and athletes in different team sports branches in the same age group. This study was conducted on male athletes in 15-16 age group who participate in matches with license in Samsun. 50 athletes from each of the team sports of football, volleyball, basketball and handball players and 50 sedentary males participated as well; being in total 250 athletes. Among respiratory functions tests; vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC) and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) values were measured. As a result of the measurements VC values of sedentary males were lower than football and handball players (p 0.01). It was determined that VC values of handball players was higher than football, volleyball, basketball players and sedentary males (p 0.05 and p 0.01). When FVC values were analyzed, first of all it was determined that handball, football and basketball players have significantly higher values compared to sedentary males (p 0.01). In the comparison between branches FVC values of volleyball players were significantly lower than football and handball players (p 0.01). FEV1 values were significantly higher among football and handball players compared to volleyball players and sedentary males (p 0.01). When MVV values were analyzed, it was observed that football players have higher values compared to volleyball and sedentary males (p 0.01). MVV results of handball players were significantly higher than sedentary males (p 0.05). When the respiratory rates (RR) were analyzed, it was determined that values were not significantly different between subjects (p 0.05). As a conclusion, it was determined that respiratory functions were higher among individuals who do exercise compared to those who do not. That the respiratory parameters of athletes doing exercise are higher than those who do not shows the positive effect of training on respiratory system. In addition to this, the difference of respiratory functions between branches shows that the sport branch influences the respiratory capacity.