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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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CAN BLOOD GAS AND ACID-BASE PARAMETERS AT MAXIMAL 200 METERS FRONT CRAWL SWIMMING BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN FORMER COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL SWIMMERS? |
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Jernej Kapus  ,
Anton Usaj, Boro Strumbelj and Venceslav Kapus |
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University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2008) 7, 106 - 113 Search Google Scholar for Citing Articles |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether maximal
200 m front crawl swimming strategies and breathing patterns influenced
blood gas and acid-base parameters in a manner which gives advantage to
former competitive swimmers in comparison with their recreational colleagues.
Twelve former competitive male swimmers (the CS group) and nine recreational
male swimmers (the RS group) performed a maximal 200 m front crawl swimming
with self- selected breathing pattern. Stroke rate (SR) and breathing frequency
(BF) were measured during the swimming test. Measures also included blood
lactate concentration ([LA]) and parameters of blood acid-base status before
and during the first minute after the swimming test. The CS group swam faster
then the RS group. Both groups have similar and steady SR throughout the
swimming test. This was not matched by similar BF in the CS group but matched
it very well in the RS group (r = 0.89). At the beginning of swimming test
the CS group had low BF, but they increased it throughout the swimming test.
The BF at the RS group remained constant with only mirror variations throughout
the swimming test. Such difference in velocity and breathing resulted in
maintaining of blood Po2 from hypoxia and Pco2 from hypercapnia. This was
similar in both groups. [LA] increased faster in the CS group than in the
RS group. On the contrary, the rate of pH decrease remained similar in both
groups. The former competitive swimmers showed three possible advantages
in comparison to recreational swimmers during maximal 200 m front crawl
swimming: a more dynamic and precise regulation of breathing, more powerful
bicarbonate buffering system and better synchronization between breathing
needs and breathing response during swimming.
Key words: Swimming, freestyle, breathing, blood gas, acid-base status. |
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