Endurance running performance in athletes with asthma

Abstract

Laboratory assessment was made during maximal and submaximal exercise on 16 endurance trained male runners with asthma (aged 35±9 years) (mean±s.D.). Eleven of these asthmatic athletes had recent performance times over a half‐marathon, which were examined in light of the results from the laboratory tests.

The maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) of the group was 61.8 + 6.3 ml kg^‐1 min^‐1 and the maximum ventilation (V _Emax) was 138.7±24.71 min^‐1. These maximum cardio‐respiratory responses to exercise were positively correlated to the degree of airflow obstruction, defined as the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (expressed as a percentage of predicted normal). The half‐marathon performance times of 11 of the athletes ranged from those of recreational to elite runners (82.4±8.8 min, range 69–94). Race pace was correlated with VO₂max (r=0.863, P<0.01) but the highest correlation was with the running velocity at a blood lactate concentration of 2 mmol 1^‐1 (r=0.971, P < 0.01). The asthmatic athletes utilized 82±4 % VO₂max during the half‐marathon, which was correlated with the %VO₂max at 2 mmol 1^‐1 blood lactate (r=0.817, P<0.01).

The results of this study suggest that athletes with mild to moderate asthma can possess high VO₂max values and can develop a high degree of endurance fitness, as defined by their ability to sustain a high percentage of VO₂max over an endurance race. In athletes with more severe airflow obstruction, the maximum ventilation rate may be reduced and so VO₂max may be impaired. The athletes in the present study have adapted to this limitation by being able to sustain a higher %VO₂max before the accumulation of blood lactate, which is an advantage during an endurance race. Therefore, with appropriate training and medication, asthmatics can successfully participate in endurance running at a competitive level.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• endurance running
• blood lactate
• half‐marathon

Notes

To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Respiratory Physiology, East Birmingham Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham B9 5ST.