1. Wijayasiri K.D.C.U.1, Wimalasekera S. W.2, Thurairaja C3.
Sports Medicine Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila,
Sri Lanka1.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri
Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka2,
Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka3.

2.  The performance of a Cricketer mainly
depends on the Cricketer’s Physical fitness,
Mental fitness and correct Technical training.
 Sri Lankan club level cricketers’
performances at the competitive level are not
up to the optimal standards.
Why?

3.  Sri Lankan club level cricketers are always
assessed by their training techniques. but; do
we assess them for their Physical Fitness?
NO
 Physical fitness mainly depends on the
optimal function of Respiratory System and
Cardiovascular System.

4.  International studies on Pulmonary Function of
Athletes
 Mahotra and Shrestha, 2013- Nepal*
 Sen and Raveendran , 2013- India*
 Ghanbari et al, 2013 - Canada
 Kim & lee, 2012 – Korea*
 Illi at all, 2012- Switzerland
 West CR, 2012- UK
 Griffits et al, 2006- UK
 Wells et al, 2005- Canada
 Dereulla et al, 2005
 Nourry , Deruelle, Guinhouya , et al, 2005
 Mcconnel and romer, 2004- UK,USA
 Vincent et al, 2002- USA
 Ortega et al, 2001- Spain
 Minimum Literature available on Pulmonary Functions
of Cricketers**
 No studies done in Sri Lanka on Pulmonary
Functions amongst Cricketers.

5.  To determine the Effects of Training on
Pulmonary Function amongst Sri Lankan
Division One Club Level Cricketers in
comparison to matched controls.

6.  A Descriptive cross sectional study
 Ethical approval for the study was granted by the
Ethical Review committee of the Faculty of Medical
Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri
Lanka
 Thirty (n= 30) Division one club level Cricketers.
 All rounder players from different Cricket clubs
 Control subjects (age, height , weight and gender
matched) n = 30

7.  Questionnaire : Socio-Demographic data
 Medical Examination of Cricketers and Controls
 Pulmonary Function Tests were done using
Vitallograph Spirometer.
 The Cricketer/ Control was in standing position
 Best volume curve of 3 consecutive blows
was taken
 Data analyzed with SPSS-16 statistical
package.(Student t-Test and Pearsons correlation)

8. Mean
value
Cricketers
(Mean ±SD)
( n= 30)
Controls
(Mean ± SD)
( n= 30)
p value
Age (yrs.) 20.6 ± 2.1 21.2 ± 2.0 p > 0.05
Height
(Cm)
176.3 ± 8.7 175.3 ± 5.6 p > 0.05
Weight
(Kg)
72.3 ± 11.4 71.6 ± 12.0 p > 0.05
BMI
(kg/m2)
22.3 ± 4.4 22.3 ± 6.0 p > 0.05

9. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Age (yrs.) Height (Cm) Weight (Kg) BMI
Socio-Demographic data
Cricketers Control

10.  The Cricketers and Controls were Male in
gender.
 Mean duration of training was 5 to 10 years.
 Mean Training Hours were 4hrs/ day

11. Mean value Cricketers
(n = 30)
Controls
(n=30)
p value
FVC (l)* 3.9 ± 0.5* 3.3 ± 0.6 p < 0.05*
FIVC (l)* 3.8 ± 0.6* 3.1 ± 0.7 p < 0.05*
FEV1 (l/sec)* 3.5 ± 0.4* 3.0 ± 0.5 p < 0.05*
FEF25-75%(l/min)
4.1 ± 0.8 4.3 ± 1.7 p > 0.05
PEFR(l/min) 553.2 ± 72.5 571.9 ± 62.2 p > 0.05
FEV1 / FVC 89.2 ± 5.4 90.0 ± 6.3 p > 0.05

12. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
FVC (L) FIVC (L) FEV1 (L) FEF25-75% PEFR *
100
FEV1 / FVC *
10
Pulmonary Function of Cricketers
Cricketers Control

13. Lung functions Pearson
correlation
coefficient
p value
FVC (l) 0.14 p>0.05
FIVC (l) 0.10 p>0.05
FEV1 ( l/sec) 0.10 p>0.05
FEF25%-75%(l) -0.14 p>0.05
PEFR (l/min) 0.88 p>0.05
FEV1/FVC% -0.14 p>0.05

14.  Inspiratory Function: FVC, FIVC
 Only Inspiratory Pulmonary Function
parameters of the cricketers were
significantly improved with training than the
controls (p<0.05).
*Specific inspiratory muscle training does not improve
performance or VO2max levels in well trained athletes
(Riganas et al, 2008)*
*Inspiratory muscles alone does not limit the incremental
exercise performance in healthy subjects (Rommer et al
2007)*

15.  PEFR, FEF25-75% , FEV1/ FVC% no significant
improvement
 No significant improvement of
Expiratory Muscle Strength
Small Airway functions
in Cricketers after training when compared
to the Controls.

16. No significant improvement of Pulmonary
Function Tests with duration of training.

17.  The results indicate the poor Respiratory
Efficiency amongst Sri Lankan Division one
club level Cricketers.

18.  The training programmes should be planned to
optimize the Respiratory Functions of the Sri
Lankan division one club level cricketers.
 Respiratory Muscle Endurance Training (RMET)
(Ghanbari et al, 2013/ Illi et al, 2012 ), Respiratory Muscle
strength Training (RMST) (Illi et al, 2012).
 Combined RMET and RMST is more superior
method (Illi et al, 2012).
 Core Muscles (including Deep Abdominal Muscles)
training ( Kim & Lee, 2012) also has to be implemented in
the training schedules of the Sri Lankan Division
one club level Cricketers to ensure the better
Expiratory function.

20.  Sri Lanka Cricket Board and cricketers of division
One cricket clubs
 All the Academic staff and Non-Academic staff
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences,
University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
 All the Doctors and other staff
Sports Medicine Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital,
Kalubowila, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

22. Thank you!

23. SPIROMETER Results sheet