PhD  G.V. Puchinsky¹
Dr.Med., Professor N.I. Ishekova^1
1Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk

Keywords: students, external respiration system, exercises, spirometry.

Background. Modern research literature makes a special emphasis on the functional parameters of external respiration system in young trainees living in the northern territories of Russia [1, 4, 6, 9]. A number of unfavorable climatic and geographic conditions that negatively affect the body physiological system functionality [3, 5] make it necessary to study the peculiarities of adaptive rearrangements of the body during the training process. However, there is a lack of data on the structure of the external respiration system functionality in students who are regularly involved in different types of physical activities within the circumpolar region.

Objective of the study was to identify the peculiarities of external respiration in male students developing endurance mainly through speed-strength exercises.

Methods and structure of the study. Sampled for the one-stage observational experiment were 39 male students. The nonrandomized sampling mix was formed based on the principle of regular performance during the training sessions of either speed-strength (Group 1, n=22) or cyclic exercises aimed to develop endurance (Group 2, n=17). The subjects’ training experience ranged from 3 to 5 training sessions per week for more than 3 years. All testees were born and lived in the northern regions. Their age, height, and body weight did not differ statistically significantly (p>0.05) and were as follows: Group 1 (177.636±5.778 cm, 75.545±9.615 kg, 21.136±1.859 years) and Group 2 (177.706±5.775 cm, 73.000±9.487 kg, 20.765±1.437 years).

The external respiration rates were studied using the computer spirometer Spiro-Spectrum ("Neurosoft" LLC) in the initial (sitting) position in the morning in a room with an air temperature of 18-20 C°. The following external respiration indicators were registered: vital capacity (VC), inspiratory reserve volume (RVinsp), expiratory reserve volume (RVexp), tidal volume (TV), forced vital capacity (FVC); forced expiratory volume in 0.5 sec, 1 sec, and 3 sec from forced vital capacity maneuver (FEV0.5, FEV1, FEV3, respectively), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), peak expiratory flow rate corresponding to 25%, 50%, and 75% of forced vital capacity (PEF25, PEF50, and PEF75); average forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (AEF25-75) and 75% and 85% of forced vital capacity (AEF75-85); average forced expiratory flow between 0.2 l and 1.2 l (AEF0.2-1.2); forced expiratory volume to achieve peak expiratory flow rate (VPEFR);  time to peak expiratory flow rate (TPEFR). The study was carried out in compliance with the relevant ethical and humanity provisions of the Helsinki Declaration and the EU Directive 8/609EU.

The statistical data processing was made using the IBM SPSS Statistics software for Windows, Version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The data distribution normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk’s test. The significance of differences in the variables was assessed depending on the distribution normality using the parametric Student's t-test for independent samples. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney u-test was used for the variables with an unrevealed normal distribution. The significance level in all tests was p≤0.05.

Results and conclusions. The comparison of the static lung volumes and capacities between Group 1 and Group 2 revealed no statistically significant differences in terms of vital capacity, RVinsp, RVexp, and tidal volume at p>0.05. The spirometric test of forced expiration did not show any statistically significant differences in terms of forced vital capacity, FEV1, FEV3, and FEV0.5 (p>0.05). The study of the airway conductance revealed that in Group 2, PEF25 increased that in Group 1 by 15.17% at p>0.05. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between PEF50 and PEF75 (p>0.05). The analysis of the data obtained also showed no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of peak expiratory flow rate, AEF25-75, AEF75-85, AEF0.2-1.2, and Texp at p>0.05. At the same time, the volume to achieve peak expiratory flow rate and time to peak expiratory flow rate values were significantly higher in Group 2 by 46.25% (p<0.01) and 44.44% (p<0.05), respectively (see Table).

Table 1. External respiration rates in students who predominantly use either endurance or speed-strength exercises

Note. The independent sample variables were compared using:

α ‒ parametric Student’s t-test, M±SD,

β  ‒ non-parametric Mann-Whitney u-test, Me (Q1‒Q3).

* – statistically significant differences (p<0.05);

# – statistically significant differences (p<0.01).

The findings supplement the data on the adaptive variability of the external respiration rates in young people who are regularly involved in different training activities [2, 8, 7, 11], including those living in the northern regions [1, 4, 6].

Conclusions. The study of the airway conductance revealed higher values of PEF25 - by 15.17% (p<0.05) in terms of PEF50 and PEF75 range, with no statistically significant differences among the students involved in endurance trainings as opposed to those developing their speed-strength abilities, which may be indicative of a specific adaptation of the external respiration system at the large bronchi level. There was also an increase in volume to achieve peak expiratory flow rate by 46.25% (p<0.01) and in time to peak expiratory flow rate by 44.44% (p<0.05) in Group 2. This suggests the specific adaptation of the external respiration system and a particular respiratory pattern formed during exercise typical of the presented contingents. From the view point of the physiological endurance building mechanisms [10, 12], this, coupled with the identified specific features of airway conductance, may indicate an improvement in the external respiration structure in young people engaged in the athletic training process, with the predominant use of endurance and aerobic working capacity building exercises in particular.

References

1. Gudkov A.B., Manuylov I.V., Torshin V.I. et al. Seasonal changes in external respiration parameters for skiers of mass sports grades in European North. Human ecology. 2016. no.7. pp. 31-36.
2. Grechishkina S.S., Petrova T.G., Namitokova A.A. Features of cardiorespiratory system functionality and neurophysiological status in track and field athletes. Vestnik TGPU. 2011. no. 5 pp. 49-54.
3. Grishin O.V., Ustyuzhaninova N.V. Features of energy metabolism in northerners. Breath in the North. Function. Structure. Reserves. Pathology. Novosibirsk, 2006. pp. 98-104.
4. Matveyeva A.M. Functional features of formation of sports overload in skiers training in the North. PhD diss.. abstr. Tyumen, 2007. 26 p.
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Corresponding author: g.puchinskij@narfu.ru

Abstract

Modern research literature makes a special emphasis on the functional parameters of external respiration system in young trainees living in the northern territories of Russia. A number of unfavorable climatic and geographic conditions that negatively affect the functioning of physiological systems of the body actualize the study of the peculiarities of adaptive rearrangements of the body during the training process.

Objective of the study was to identify the peculiarities of external respiration in male students developing endurance mainly through speed-strength exercises.

Methods and structure of the study. Sampled for the one-stage observational experiment were 39 male students. The nonrandomized sampling mix was formed based on the principle of regular performance during the training sessions of either speed-strength (n=22) or cyclic (n=17) exercises aimed to develop endurance.

Results of the study. The study found that forced expiration in the students practicing exercises to develop endurance was characterized by statistically higher values of some dynamic parameters and higher indicators of airway conductance.

Conclusion. The data obtained suggest a specific adaptation of the external respiration system and the formation of a specific breathing pattern under training loads, which were characteristic of the represented contingents of the examined trainees.