Airway dysfunction in elite swimmers:prevalence, impact and challenges

Mitch Lomax Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK Abstract: The prevalence of airway dysfunction in elite swimmers is among the highest in elite athletes. The traditional view that swimmers naturally gravitate toward swimming because of preexisting respiratory disorders has been challenged. There is now sufficient evidence that the higher prevalence of bronchial tone disorders in elite swimmers is not the result of a natural selection bias. Rather, the combined effects of repeated chlorine by-product exposure and chronic endurance training can lead to airway dysfunction and atopy. This review will detail the underpinning causes of airway dysfunction observed in elite swimmers. It will also show that airway dysfunction does not prevent success in elite level swimming. Neither does it inhibit lung growth and might be partially reversible when elite swimmers retire from competition. Keywords: exercise, aquatic athletes, bronchoconstrictio

Impact of weekly swimming training distance on the ergogenicity of inspiratory muscle training in well trained youth swimmers.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of weekly swimming training distance upon the ergogenicity of inspiratory muscle training (IMT). Thirty-three youth swimmers were recruited and separated into a LOW and HIGH group based on weekly training distance ( 41 km.wk-1, respectively). The LOW and HIGH groups were further subdivided into control and IMT groups for a 6-week IMT intervention giving a total of four groups: LOWcon, LOWIMT, HIGHcon, HIGHIMT. Before and after the intervention period, swimmers completed maximal effort 100 m and 200 m front crawl swims, with maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (PImax and PEmax, respectively) assessed before and after each swim. IMT increased PImax (but not PEmax) by 36% in LOWIMT and HIGHIMT groups (P < 0.05) but 100 m and 200 m swims were faster only in the LOWIMT group (3% and 7% respectively, P < 0.05). Performance benefits only occurred in those training up to 31 km.wk-1 and indicate that the ergogenicity of IMT is affected by weekly training distance. Consequently, training distances are important considerations, among others, when deciding whether or not to supplement swimming training with IMT.N/

Inspiratory muscle fatigue at the swimming tumble turns: its occurrence and effects on kinematic parameters of the turns

Introduction: The present study had two objectives: 1) to investigate the effects of tumble turns on the development of inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) and compare this to whole swimming, and 2) to evaluate the effects of pre-induced IMF on the kinematic parameters of tumble turns. Fourteen young club-level swimmers (13 ± 2 years of ages) completed three swim trials.Methods: The first trial was used to determine the 400-m front crawl swim time at maximal effort (400FC). The other two trials consisted of a series of 15 tumble turns at the 400FC pace. In one of the turn-only trials, IMF was pre-induced (TURNS-IMF), whereas in the other turn-only trial it was not (TURNS-C).Results: Compared with baseline values, the values for maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) at the end of the swim were significantly lower at all trials. However, the magnitude of inspiratory muscle fatigue was less after TURNS-C (PImax decreased by 12%) than after 400FC (PImax decreased by 28%). The tumble turns were slower during 400FC than during TURNS-C and TURNS-IMF. In addition, compared to TURNS-C, turns in the TURNS-IMF were performed with higher rotation times and shorter apnea and swim-out times.Discussion: The results of the present study suggest that tumble turns put a strain on the inspiratory muscles and directly contribute to the IMF observed during 400FC swimming. Furthermore, pre-induced IMF resulted in significantly shorter apneas and slower rotations during tumble turns. IMF therefore has the potential to negatively affect overall swimming performance, and strategies should be sought to reduce its effects