Abstract

PAULO, Rui Miguel et al. Relationship between Physical Activity and respiratory function: analysis of corporal composition and spirometric values of Portuguese and Italian students. Motri. [online]. 2015, vol.11, n.1, pp.3-13. ISSN 1646-107X.  https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.2797.

The objective was to analyze the influence and relationship of physical activity (PA) on corporal composition and on spirometric values, associating these indicators with the respiratory function.  Sample with 179 individuals (85 Italians; 94 Portuguese) who were higher education students, and they were divided into three groups: G_SCH+EXER - 64 students doing supervised exercise, curricular and extra-curricular, at least 4 sessions/week; G_SCHOOL - 66 students doing supervised curricular PA, at least 2 sessions/week; G_SEDENTARY - 49 sedentary students. We applied an adaptation of the questionnaire Telama et al. (1997), and measured the spirometry values through the spirometer Microquark/Cosmed, the BMI and Waist Circumference (WC). After checking the normality of the sample (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), we used the ANOVA and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Was also used the Spearman correlation test. The G_SCH-EXER of both nationalities achieved significantly better WC and some spirometric values, compared to G_SEDENTARY. We confirmed in the sample there was a positive correlation between BMI and WC, and for Portuguese students a negative correlation between body composition and some spirometric values. Italians had better corporal composition values, while the Portuguese had better spirometric values. The evidence was that the students who did supervised exercise had better corporal composition and respiratory function.

Keywords : Physical Activity; Respiratory Function; Corporal Composition; Spirometry.

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