Relationship between short-distance run and variables of pulmonary function tests

Background: The relationship of pulmonary functions and running performance has always been a topic of debate among the fraternity of physiologists. The relationship of submaximal exercise with lactate threshold, respiratory muscle fatigue, and echocardiography has also been widely studied. But these tests are equipment and lab intensive. Aims and Objective: To study relationship between run timings for short distance and variables of pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Materials and Methods: In the present study 142 healthy males participated who were non - sedentary and non-athletically trained. They performed a 400m distance run and time taken to finish the run was recorded in seconds. These same set of subjects also underwent PFT and data was recorded as % of predicted values. Results: The recorded variables were subjected to statistical analysis and their Mean, SD, Pearson’s correlation were derived. Time taken to finish 400-m run were correlated with percentage predicted values for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), FEV1/FVC, and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and the r-values were obtained: - 0.12 (- 0.27 to - 0.32); - 0.15 (- 0.30 to - 0.01); - 0.09 (- 0.25 to 0.06); - 0.07 (- 0.15 to 0.06); - 0.12 (- 0.17 to 0.02), respectively. Conclusion: A negative correlation was found between the PFT variables and 400-m run finish timings. Therefore, evaluation of pulmonary functions may be used to screen potential athletes. This may also be used an additional criterion to monitor progress in level of physical fitness of selected athletes during the course of their supervised training period.