Ultrasound Assessment of Diaphragm Thickness in Athletes

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the aerobic and anaerobic performance of diaphragm thickness in athletes. That study was conducted with 15 team athletes (TA) (age 21.80 +/- 2.40 years), 15 individual athletes (IA) (age 18.93 +/- 2.31 years) and the control group (CON) 10 people living sedentary lifestyles (age 23.60 +/- 2.91 years). In this study, diaphragm muscle thickness (B-mode ultrasonography), respiratory function (spirometry and maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP), aerobic capacity yo-yo intermittent endurance Test 1 (YYIET-1), and anaerobic power by Monark 834 E were assessed. The diaphragm thickness was determined from the intercostalspace between the 8th and 9th ribs at the expiration time by ultrasound and from the intercostal space between the 10th and 11th ribs at inspiration and then, the thickness of the diaphragm was measured from the diaphragm is seen best. There was a positive correlation between DiT(ins)(r = 0.477) and DiT(ins-ex)(r = 0.473) parameters of TA. In IA, there was a significant correlation between DiT(ins) and DiT(ins)-ex parameters and Peak Power (r = 0.495 and 0.435, respectively) and average power (r = 0.483 and 0.446, respectively). No significant correlation in all parameters of the CON group (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that athletes with high diaphragm thickness had higher anaerobic performance, and athletes with thinner diaphragm thickness had better VO(2)Max capacity. The diaphragm thickness of the athletes in individual branches was thicker than the team athletes, and their anaerobic performance was also higher.