Morpho-spirometric and voice-acoustic differences between athletes and non-athletes

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the morpho-spirometric and voice-acoustic differences between groups of athletes and non-athletes. METHODS: Six morpho-spirometric variables and 4 voice-acoustic parameters were measured in 66 male athletes from Kosovo (soccer players, basketball players, and boxers) and 33 non-athletes, aged 17-35 years during the period April - October 2005. RESULTS: The statistical analyses were performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software package, version 20. The obtained data were analyzed through Descriptive Parameters (arithmetic means and standard deviation), Factor Analysis, Discriminant canonical analysis and Independent Samples t-test. Descriptive data indicated systematic differences in all measured variables between the group of athletes and the group of non-athletes. The latent structure of the measured variables was composed of three latent factors that explained 79.21% of the total variance. The discriminant canonic analysis and independent samples t-test indicated significant differences (P=0.00) between the two tested groups. CONCLUSIONS: The group of non-athletes, as compared with the group of athletes, was characterized by lower spirometric values, higher body weight and higher fundamental frequency of the voice. These results support previous findings indicating significant morpho-functional changes of the human organism associated with well-organized and continuously applied physical activities.