Comparison of vital capacity and maximum breathing capacity of athletes and nonathletes

¹ Physiology Department, University of California Medical School, Los Angeles, California, and Physiology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

The vital capacity (VC), maximum breathing capacity (MBC) and MBC/VC measurements of 20 athletes and 20 nonathletes were compared. The mean VC score of the athletes was significantly higher than the mean nonathlete VC, but insignificant differences existed between the two groups in MBC and MBC/VC. It is suggested that the difference in VC is due to increased development of respiratory musculature incidental to regular physical training. This increase is not reflected in the MBC since this measurement would appear to be more concerned with the presence or absence of obstructive ventilatory defects that are unaffected by physical training. Results are compared with data from the literature.