Effect of Different Modes of Physical Activity on Respiratory Efficiency: A Comparative Study in Young Males

Abstract

Introduction: Moderate level of exercise in daily life has beneficial influences on all body systems. Although evidences are available in literature studied effect of regular exercise in respiratory disease groups, few studies reported effect of physical exercise in sedentary population. Present study was aimed to study the effect of various modes of exercises on respiratory efficiency in sedentary young males. Methods: Experimental comparative cohort study was conducted in the Department of Physiology. Five different groups were followed different exercise protocol and studied for pre-post effect of exercise. Sixty healthy nonsmoking males of 15-25 years were included for exercise training. Participants were studied in five different equal groups. All the groups performed five different modes of exercise protocols for twelve weeks with professional physical trainer. The exercise protocols include whole body exercise, walking exercise, combined exercise, upper and lower limb exercise. Respiratory efficiency were measured before and after the training program in all groups and the parameter studied were FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF0.2-1.2, FEF 25-75%, V max 25%, Vmax50%, Vmax75%, MVV, BHT, 40mmHg and MEP test. Data comparison was done by paired student’s t-test. Result: Respiratory efficiency was found to be significantly improved after whole body, combined and walking exercise for most of the parameters. Upper and lower body exercises were not as beneficial as others. Respiratory efficiency showed improvement after regular exercise training. Conclusion: Whole body exercise and combined is most effective exercise protocol over other exercise patterns as only upper and only lower body exercise