Conference Paper

Ventilatory Strategies Of Competitive Swimmers During Incremental Swimming And Cycling Tests To Exhaustion

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Abstract

Ventilation while swimming is generally constrained by the medium (water) and the obligatory timing associated with arm mechanics. Attempts at describing ventilation have been similarly constrained and therefore little published data exists on operating lung volumes and pulmonary function while swimming at maximal efforts. This is in contrast to the considerable data available for cycling and running. PURPOSE: To compare swimming and cycling exercise modes on ventilatory variables. METHODS: Ten trained, competitive men swimmers (age = 24.4 ± 1.91yrs) were asked to perform two incremental exercise tests to volitional exhaustion on separate days, one on a cycle ergometer and a second while swimming in a flume. Tidal volume (VT), peak tidal flow inspired (PTi) and expired (PTe), time to inspire (Ti) and expire (Te), total tidal time (Tt), duty cycle (Ti/TT), and ventilatory capacity (Vcap) were assessed repetitively in both conditions via flow-volume loops. Maximum aerobic capacity (VO2peak) and ventilation (VE) were measured via open flow calorimetry. All variables were recorded over the final minute of each incremental exercise test. Paired t-tests were used to compare the exercise modes, with the level of significance set at 0.05. RESULTS: In the final minute of the incremental test to exhaustion, swimming resulted in a smaller PTi (4.74 ± 0.29 vs. 5.66 ± 0.29L·s1; p<0.05), but a greater PTe (7.00 ± 0.20 vs. 6.03 ± 0.38L·s1; p<0.05) than for cycling. Ti (0.76 ± 0.05 vs. 0.63 ± 0.38s; p<0.05), Tt (1.48 ± 0.09 vs. 1.28 ± 0.08s; p<0.05), and Ti/TT (56.7 ± 1.1 vs. 49.4 ± 0.7%; p<0.05) were greater for swimming than for cycling. Despite no difference in Te (0.58 ± 0.10 vs. 0.65 ± 0.04s; p=0.13), VO2peak (3.61 ± 0.21 vs. 3.60 ± 0.14 L·min1, p = 0.95) or Vcap (189.1 ± 63.0 vs. 165.9 ± 61.3L·s1; p=0.07) between exercise modes, VE was smaller in swimming versus cycling (102.9 ± 5.8 vs. 129.0 ± 7.8 L·s1; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Swimming appears to require changes in ventilatory strategies during maximal efforts as compared to similar exercise performed on a cycle ergometer despite similar metabolic demands. Whether or not this is due to postural differences, hydrostatic influences or the obligatory ventilatory entrainment remains unclear.

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... Additionally, subjects spent nearly the same amount of absolute time expiring and presented with similar peak expired flows during both modes of exercise. Our findings are in line with the observations of Skutnik et al., (35) who compared the ventilatory strategies between swimming and cycling and found that swimming results in statistically similar O 2 and time expired compared to cycling, with differences in peak E . Similar to the findings of our study, they observed that peak inspired flow was lower and inspiratory duty cycle was higher during swimming compared to cycling. ...
Article
The thorax undergoes unique conditions while swimming. Hydrostatic pressure from water immersion places an external load on the thorax and increases airway resistance, while the horizontal body position results in central venous engorgement and an associated reduction in lung compliance. The aforementioned factors likely increase the work of breathing (Wb); however, this hypothesis remains untested. PURPOSE: To compare Wb during freestyle swimming relative to cycling, and to characterize the differences in the cardiorespiratory responses to swimming relative to cycling in the same individuals. METHODS: Eight collegiate swimmers (n=4 male, n=4 female; age= 22±2 y) performed an incremental swim test while tethered to a resistance apparatus. On a separate day subjects performed an incremental cycle test. During swimming and cycling, metabolic and ventilatory parameters were measured using a customized metabolic cart, and inspired Wb was quantified using an esophageal balloon catheter. RESULTS: Swimming and cycling elicited statistically similar levels of peak oxygen uptake (3.87±0.92 vs. 4.20±0.83 l·min, p=0.143). However, peak minute ventilation (VE) (118±3 vs. 154±25 l·min) and heart rate (164±19 vs. 183±8 beats·min) were significantly lower during swimming relative to cycling (both p<0.05). Inspired Wb was higher at a VE of 50 l·min (+27±16 J·min), 75 l·min (+56±23 J·min) and 100 l·min (+53±22 J·min) during swimming compared to cycling (all p<0.05). Periods of inter-breath apnea were observed while swimming (duration=0.13-2.07 s). CONCLUSION: We interpret our findings to mean that the horizontal body position and hydrostatic pressure on the chest wall requires swimmers to generate greater inspiratory pressures to sustain adequate VE during exercise.
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