Objective: The present study investigated the acute effects of a
mixed-modality, long-duration adventure race on pulmonary function in
adolescent athletes. Methods: Twenty male adolescents aged 14 to 17
years volunteered to participate in a simulated competitive wilderness
adventure race of 68.5-km. Expiratory function was evaluated by
spirometry with an Ergocard CPX Clinical system before, immediately
after, and 24 h after race completion. Measurements included forced
vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced
expiratory flows at 25%, 50% and 75% of FVC (FEF25, FEF50, FEF75,
respectively) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Maximal inspiratory and
expiratory mouth static pressures (MIP and MEP, respectively) were also
measured using a portable hand-held mouth pressure meter across the same
time points. Results: The mean completion time of the race was 05:38 ±
00:20 hours. A significant post-race decrease in FVC was observed
immediately after the race (-5.2%, p < 0.05). However, no
significant changes were observed for FEV1, PEF or the FEV1/FVC and
FEV1/PEF ratios. The results also showed no significant modifications in
the maximal expiratory flow-volume curves irrespectively of FVC
percentages (FEF25, FEF50, FEF75). In addition, estimates of respiratory
muscle strength (MIP and MEP) were unaffected by the race. Conclusion:
The long-duration adventure race induced no substantial reduction in
expiratory pulmonary function and this response was associated with no
apparent respiratory muscle fatigue. Therefore, the pulmonary system of
trained adolescent athletes was sufficiently robust to endure the
mixed-modality, long-duration adventure race of ∼5-6 h.