PULMONARY ADAPTATION TO RESISTANCE EXERCISE
With increasing trend of the westernization and influence of media the trend of body building is on the rise and more and more people are practicing body buildings. The positive association between bodybuilding and pulmonary functions is still not clear. In this study we have assessed slow vital capacity parameters in bodybuilders and controls. This study is aimed at assessing the effects of bodybuilding on slow vital capacity parameters. A case-control study was used to major pulmonary parameters and was performed with computerized spirolyser (with RS-232 connectivity). Slow vital capacity parameters majored between bodybuilders and control groups were statistically analyzed by student t-test using SPSS software. Vital Capacity (VC), Inspiratory Reserve volume (IRV), Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV), Inspiratory Capacity (IC) & Tidal Volume (TV) among body builders were 3.31±0.52, 1.64±0.52, 1.04±0.38, 2.24±0.64 & 0.57±0.18 in liters respectively. The same parameters among the controls were 3.38±0.4, 1.65±0.42, 1.13±0.32, 2.24±0.44 & 0.55±0.15 in liters respectively. The changes in all above parameters were statistically insignificant in our study. Our study shows that bodybuilding as an exercise is poor stimulant for increasing lung volumes. We have also observed a reduced unworried function tests values in Indian study groups compared to the Westerners study group. However this study is limited by its small sample size and is not representative of female subjects. Further research may be required to study in females and large groups.