EFFECT OF A SEASON OF VARSITY TRACK AND FIELD ON SELECTED ANTHROPOMETRIC, CIRCULATORY, AND PULMONARY FUNCTION PARAMETERS

Numerous skinfold and girth measurements, vital capacity, maximum breathing capacity, and pulse recovery counts after a 5-min. bench step were taken on members of a college track and field team before, in the middle, and at the end of a season of training and competition. No significant changes were observed in any girth measurements, the vital capacity, or the maximum breathing capacity. The estimated body density also did not change, but five of six other skinfold measurements were significantly less at the end of the season. Possible explanations for this finding, and a comparison of skinfold changes effected by athletic team training in other studies, were presented. Neither the resting nor terminal step test heart rate changed. However, a significant reduction in recovery pulse counts was noted. It was pointed out that no significant change in any of the measurements taken occurred between midseason and the end of the season. Mean values for several subgroups of the team at the beginning and at the end of the season were presented and discussed. © 1968 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.