A Comparative Study of Pulmonary Function Tests in Recreational Swimmers, Recreational Runners, and Sedentary Healthy Male Adults

Background: Regular aerobic exercise is associated with variations in pulmonary function through adaptations in respiratory muscles, lung volumes, and ventilatory efficiency. Swimming and running are commonly practiced aerobic activities that show differences in their physiological and mechanical characteristics related to respiration. However, limited data are available comparing pulmonary function among recreational swimmers, recreational runners, and sedentary individuals within a narrow age group. Objectives: To compare pulmonary function tests among recreational swimmers, recreational runners, and sedentary healthy male adults aged 18-25 years. Methodology: This cross-sectional comparative study included healthy male participants aged 18-25 years, divided into three groups: recreational swimmers, recreational runners, and sedentary controls. Participants in the swimming and running groups reported engaging in their respective activities for approximately one hour per session, four to five times per week. Detailed assessment of training intensity, swimming stroke type, running pace, and environmental conditions was not performed. Pulmonary function tests, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), were measured using standard spirometric techniques. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, and a P-value