Athlete Or Artist?

PURPOSE: Athletes have been the focus of extensive research for many years; however, marching bands members have not. Are members of a marching band physically comparable to athletes or are they purely artists? The purpose of this study is to compare the lung capacity of D2 track and field athletes and members of the marching band. METHODS: Band participants were recruited from the marching band summer camp at a D2 Historically Black University (HBCU) and track and field athletes at the beginning of the season at the same university. Lung capacity was measured utilizing the spiropet spirometer. Prior to practice participants took a deep breath and blew into the spirometer as long as possible. Two measurements were taken with the average value used for data analysis. RESULTS: Nineteen athletes (9 females, 6 male) and 15 (7 females, 8 male) marching band members took part in the study. Three athletes and five band members reported having a respiratory diagnosis of asthma. All participant’s asthma were under control at the time of the assessments. Average age of athletes was 19.1 yrs, band members was 18.73 yrs. Height of both groups were not significantly different (68.11in athletes, 67in band). Average number of years training; athletes 5.67 yrs, band 5.6 yrs. Athlete lung capacity was 3,203 and marching band averaged 3,812. CONCLUSIONS: In previous research athletes were shown to have larger lung capacities than non-athletes. Marching band members had larger lung capacities than athletes from the same university leading to the conclusion that marching band members are comparable to athletes in lung capacity.