Investigation of the functional parameters of the respiratory system in various sports among students during their studies

It is well-known that pulmonary ventilation parameters can fluctuate widely. They are highly variable and relative. They can change due to respiratory muscle fatigue, changes in body position, or increased nervous system excitability. Physical training and sports notably affect these parameters. For the first time, data was obtained on the functional state of the respiratory systems of first-, second-, and fourth-year students (based on the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy) in the context of training dynamics. The features of changes in the parameters of the external respiratory system of 17-25-year-old students depending on different sports were established for the first time. The most informative parameters for assessing students’ fitness levels while participating in sports during their university studies were identified. The study involved male students who regularly competed in different sports: 57 middle- and long-distance runners, 32 arm wrestlers, and 22 volleyball players. Spirography was used to assess the functional state of the respiratory system. More than 20 spirographic parameters were analyzed and statistically processed when studying the respiratory function of students during their university studies, and the most informative ones are presented in this article. Registration of the parameters was carried out in three stages in the first, second, and fourth years. At each stage, it was carried out three times: at rest, after a metered physical activity (a three-minute step test), and at the third minute of recovery. The spirometry data obtained from the students’ examinations showed improvements in respiratory function and the physiological mechanisms that regulate external respiration, especially with increased training. This manifested as a 26.1% increase in respiratory volume, with minimal fluctuations in respiratory rate, particularly during running and arm wrestling. There was also an increase in the oxygen absorption rate, calculated as the oxygen utilization quotient (10.4% of reference values), and an extension of exhalation duration, indicating improved gas exchange in the lungs. There was a significant improvement in vital lung capacity (P<0.001) by 18.9% and in maximum ventilation in 15 seconds (P<0.001) by 43.2% in all the studied groups.

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