Unit:
Department of Physical Education & Sport ScienceLibrary of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science
Supervisors info:
ΚΟΣΚΟΛΟΥ ΜΑΡΙΑ , ΑΝΑΠΛΗΡΩΤΡΙΑ ΚΑΘΗΓΗΤΡΙΑ , ΤΕΦΑΑ , ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Αερόβια ικανότητα και σωματομετρησεις ερασιτεχνών αθλητών πυγμαχίας καπνιστών και μη
Translated title:
Aerobia ikanotita kai somatometriseis erasitexnon athliton pugmaxias kapniston kai mi
Summary:
Chronic smoking affects health and well-being through adverse effects on various of physiological functions and especially the cardiorespiratory system. The use of tobacco products is a habit for recreational exercisers and amateur athletes, and sometimes even for professional athletes. The purpose of this study was a) to compare somatometric characteristics and aerobic capacity between smokers and non-smokers amateur boxing athletes and b) to investigate a possible correlation between the degree of nicotine dependence and aerobic and physical characteristics. The study involved twelve men and two women aged 18-33, seven smokers and seven non-smokers, who practiced boxing programs for at least one year three to five times a week. Participants were categorized as smokers and non-smokers using the Fagerstrom scale to quantify their degree of nicotine dependence. The subjects, after answering a questionnaire of 20 questions and having their somatometric characteristics measured, performed a 20-m shuttle run to determine their maximum oxygen uptake as an indicator of aerobic capacity. Smoking amateur boxers did not differ from non-smokers in age, height, body weight and percentage of body fat. Maximum oxygen uptake differed between the two groups (smokers: 44.5 ± 5.3 ml / kg / min, non-smokers: 51.9 ± 7.1 ml / kg / min, p = 0.047); it showed a very strong positive correlation with the weekly frequency of athletes’ workouts (r = 0.998) and moderately negative correlation with the degree of nicotine dependence (r = -0.482). It seems that the aerobic capacity of amateur boxers is affected by smoking while it depends on the frequency of training. Moreover, it appears that regular participation in boxing exercise programs can maintain the aerobic capacity of practitioners at levels above the general population average for their age and gender group (according to the American College of Sports Medicine-ACSM classification).
Main subject category:
Education - Sport science
Keywords:
amateur boxing, smoking, aerobic capacity, somatometric characteristics, maximal oxygen uptake, nicotine dependence
