Relation between some hematological changes induced by work performance and the state of physical fitness

ABSTRACT

The effect of exercise on 5 hematological parameters, and the relation between the changes that occurred and the level of physical fitness were investigated in 20 young male athletes. The parameters studied were the R.B.C. and W.B.C. counts, the haemoglobin content, the haematocrite value and the total plasma protein level. They were estimated at rest and immediately after an exhausting exercise on a bicycle ergometer. The physical fitness of the athletes was estimated by measuring their maximal oxygen consumption. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that the changes which occurred after exercise in the R.B.C. count, haemoglobin content, haematocrite value and the plasma protein level were insignificant, greatly variable and not related to the state of physical fitness. On the other hand, the W.B.C. count showed a significant increase after exercise in almost all cases, and it was statistically proved that the better the state of physical fitness [as indicated by a higher magnitude of maximal oxygen consumption], the lesser was the magnitude of increase in the W.B.C. count after exercise, and vice versa