ADAPTATION OF THE BREATHING SYSTEM OF THREE-QUARTERS RUGBY PLAYERS TO THE GAME-SPECIFIC EFFORT

Abstract

This study approaches the level of the adaptive variations of the breathing system in the effort specific to rugby, especially for the players within the three-quarters department.

The study took place in the 2008–2009 championship seasons, on 30 professional rugby players. All these players activate in the first league of the domestic championship and they are part of two distinct samples.

The morpho-functional measurements were as follows:

• thoracic perimeter during exhalation,
• thoracic perimeter during inhalation,
• thoracic elasticity
• vital capacity.

The measurements were taken in two phases, in pre-season and in post-season, as they are two distinct periods from a physiological perspective.

Among the conclusions, we underline that the players have a certain adaptation level to specific effort, depending on the post within the team; this phenomenon is not obvious in the junior leagues or in case of amateur rugby players.