Acute, chronic, and combined pulmonary responses to swimming in competitive swimmers

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology Vol. 259; pp. 129 - 135
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Ömer Faruk, Özdal, Mustafa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Competitive Behavior - physiology; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Male; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Respiratory; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Respiratory Muscles - physiology; Spirometry; Swimming - physiology; Teaching; Time Factors; Training; Young Adult; Training; Spirometry; Respiratory; Muscle strength
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2018.09.002

•Aim of the present study was to determine the acute, chronic, and combined effects of swimming on the respiratory mechanics.•There were three major findings of the present study:•[1] The single-effort swimming produced negative acute effects on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions.•[2] The 8-week swim training positive chronic effects on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions.•[3] Swimming exerted positive combined effects on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions. The combined effects of swimming on the inspiratory muscles and pulmonary functions are not well known. The aim of the present study was to determine the acute, chronic, and combined effects of swimming on the pulmonary functions and respiratory muscles of competitive swimmers. Thirty males (15 in the experimental group [EG] and 15 in the control group [CG]) participated in this study. The EG subjects participated in an 8-week swim training program and performed 1 day before and after an 8-week 100-m swimming event. Pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle strength were measured immediately before and after the swimming event in the EG and before and after an 8-week period in the CG. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measures one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference, and independent- and paired-sample t-tests. Swimming exerted negative acute effects (p < 0.05) and positive chronic effects (p < 0.05) on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions. Further, the negative acute effects decreased the combined effects of the chronic and acute effects of swimming on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions (p < 0.05). The results indicated that swimming exerts negative acute, positive chronic, and combined effects on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions.