Volumetric characteristics of the external respiration function in ski racers in the annual cycle

The state of the external respiration system is one of the most important factors determining the functional capabilities of the body of athletes and the effectiveness of sports activities. Indicators of its functioning among northerner athletes are modulated not only by the training process, but also by climatic and geographical factors. Literature data on the study of the function of external respiration in ski racers in the annual cycle are absent, there are only works considering seasons or some months of the year. Therefore, the aim of our work is to study the volumetric characteristics of the function of external respiration in the annual cycle of ski racers living and training in the European North, which is important for understanding the mechanisms of adaptation to environmental conditions during sports activities, as well as the influence of environmental conditions on the success of training and competitive processes. Seventy people aged 16-34 years (20.2±0.6 years) participated in the study. Participants were professional athletes living in the territory of the European North (62 °N, 51 °E) practically since birth. Studies were carried out monthly for 7 years. Every subject’s height and body weight were measured during the tests. External respiration function (FEV) was determined using microprocessor spirograph SPM-01-”R-D” of the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Medical Instruments and Equipment (Russia) in a sitting position. The height of ski racers was 175.9±0.6 cm; their body weight was 69.4±0.7 kg. In the annual cycle, the following was studied: tidal volume of respiration (Vt) and minute volume of respiration (MV), vital (VC) and forced vital (FVC) lung capacity, inspiratory (IRV) and expiratory (ERV) reserve volumes, forced expiratory volume in 0.5 second (FEV0.5) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), as well as Tiffeneau-Pinelli index (FEV1/FVC). The obtained data were processed using Fisher’s and Student’s tests with the Bonferroni correction. Data were presented as arithmetic mean and mean error (M ± m_M). The studies were conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki 1964, as modified by the WMA General Assemblies from 1975 to 2013. The methods were approved by the bioethics committee of the Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Syktyvkar, Russia). For ski racers, for the first time, the values of volumetric characteristics of the function of external respiration were determined and the ranges of annual changes in these indicators were identified, which are from 56.3 to 11.5% and are most pronounced for inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes, as well as the tidal volume. We established that ski racers who live and train in the North, compared to non-athletic men, are characterized by increased tidal volume (12.6%), vital capacity (15.7%) and forced vital capacity (15.5%), inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes (59.2%), forced expiratory volume in a half-second and a second (0.5-25.9%,), Tiffeneau-Pirelli index (3.4%) and reduced minute ventilation (9.1%) (See Tables 1 and 2). The annual dynamics of indicators of the function of external respiration made it possible to determine February as the month with maximum adaptation to the climatic conditions of the cold period of the year against the background of the competitive period and September-October as months favorable for the function of the respiratory system against the background of the preparatory training period (See Fig. 1 and 2). Apparently, for ski racers, the adaptation of the respiratory system to the cold period of the year occurs two months earlier than for non-athletic men, and the period of a more comfortable functional state lasts one month longer. Athletes during the annual weather - climate cycle have a deeper remodeling of the respiratory system, compared to non-athletic men, due to living in a cold climate and the training process. The identified features of the functioning of the respiratory system in ski racers allow more purposeful planning of the training process and measures of health correction in the North. The paper contains 3 Figures, 2 Tables and 28 References. The Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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