Background: Regular aerobic exercise is associated with adaptations in pulmonary function through improvements in respiratory muscle strength, lung volumes, and ventilatory efficiency. Swimming and running are popular aerobic activities that differ in their physiological and mechanical respiratory demands. However, comparative data on pulmonary function among recreational swimmers, recreational runners, and sedentary individuals within a narrow age range remain limited.

Objectives: To compare pulmonary function parameters among recreational swimmers, recreational runners, and sedentary healthy male adults aged 18–25 years.

Methodology: This cross-sectional comparative study included healthy male participants aged 18–25 years, categorized into three groups: recreational swimmers, recreational runners, and sedentary controls. Participants in the swimming and running groups reported engaging in their respective activities for approximately one hour per session, four to five times per week. Detailed evaluation of training intensity, swimming stroke, running pace, or environmental conditions was not undertaken. Pulmonary function tests including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were assessed using standard spirometric procedures. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate tests, with a P-value <0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Pulmonary function parameters were significantly higher in both recreational swimmers and recreational runners compared to sedentary controls. Recreational swimmers exhibited the highest mean values of FVC, FEV₁, PEFR, and MVV, followed by recreational runners, while sedentary individuals demonstrated the lowest values. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant.

Conclusions: Regular participation in recreational swimming and running is associated with improved pulmonary function compared to a sedentary lifestyle in healthy young adult males. Recreational swimming appears to confer greater pulmonary benefits than running, possibly due to the unique respiratory demands of water immersion and controlled breathing patterns.

Dr.Tauseef Tafazzul husain has completed his MD in physiology from Government Medical College, Nagpur, one of the largest medical campuses in asia. He is currently working as an assistant professor in the department of Physiology at Government Medical College, Buldhana, Maharashtra, India.

He is a trained neurophysiologist with academic and research interests in human physiology, pulmonary function testing, and exercise physiology. He is actively involved in undergraduate medical teaching and is committed to promoting concept-based and evidence-driven learning among medical students.

In addition to his medical qualification, he holds certifications in BCBR and MSCIT, demonstrating his proficiency in biomedical computing, data handling, and information technology applications in medical education and research.

He has published research articles in peer-reviewed journals indexed in reputed scientific databases. His publications focus on pulmonary function and physiological adaptations to physical activity.