Determination of the relationship between respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength and grip strength of elite athletes

Objective: Functional, physical and physiological characteristics of the athletes are the factors which affect the sports performance. It is known that both grip strength and respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength have an effect on the sports performance of the athletes. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the relationship between respiratory function-respiratory muscle strength and grip strength which are effective in sports performance of the athletes.
Methods: This study included 61 elite national team athletes (age: 20,63 ± 3,08 years, height: 172,26 ± 8,84 cm, body weight: 71,65 ± 14,28 kg, body mass index: 23,82 ± 3,33 kg /m2, sport age: 8,61 ± 4,34 years). Respiratory function and respiratory muscle strengths were assessed by digital spirometer and hand strength was assessed by hand dynamometer. The relationship between respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength and grip strength of the athletes was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results: At the end of the study; It was found that forced vital capacity (FVC), 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) values were associated with grip strength (r: 0.302 / 0.678, p <0.05).
Conclusion: In elite athletes, respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength were found to be related to grip strength. In the light of these results; it can be interpreted that the muscle strength of athletes developed parallel to respiratory muscle strength and respiratory function. Therefore, we think that exercises for increasing respiratory function and respiratory muscle strengths should be added to athletes' training programs in order to increase muscle strength, which is important in sports performance of athletes.