Lung function in athletes involved in skiing and speed skating

The aim of this study was to analyze lung function in athletes involved in endurance winter sports. Methods. Lung function was measured in 50 athletes including 30 skiers and 20 speed-skaters (24 men and 26 women aged 17 to 33 years; average age, 24.7 ± 3.8 years) using spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusion test. A control age- and sex-matched group consisted of medical students and junior physicians. Results. Lung function in athletes, both skiers and skaters, was significantly higher compared to that of the control group and to reference values (ECSC, 1993). The lung function was not related to the athletes' age. In the total group, the athletes' performance was significantly related to lung volume values (rank correlation). Conclusion. Thus, lung function of the athletes involved in winter sports, such as skiing and speed skating, and focused to building the physical endurance, is higher than in general population. The standard approach to interpretation of pulmonary function test results is based on a comparison of actual and reference values. This can lead to misdiagnosis of lung function impairments.

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