Changes in lung volumes during a periodized training year of handball players

The aim of the current study was to assess the changes in lung volumes during a periodized training year of handball players. The subjects employed in the present study were fourteen male handball players. Testing took place at four points during the periodized training year; at the beginnings of general preparation (T1), specific preparation (T2), and competition phase beginning (T3) end of competition phases of training and peaking (T4). The lung volumes selected for the investigation are forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant differences between testing sessions for FVC (F = 1.675, p > 0.05), FEV1 (F = 1.415, p > 0.05), FEV1/FVC (F = 0.971, p > 0.05) and PEF (F = 1.349, p > 0.05). It is concluded that lung volumes remain unaltered during a periodized training year of handball players.