Authors: Rareș Nicoară, Ramona Ancuța Nuț, Dan Monea
Affiliation
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Babeș-Bolyai University, Doctoral School of Physical
Education and Sport, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Abstract
Background. Swimming is recognized as a beneficial exercise for lung health, having a positive impact on respiratory function.
Aims. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of swimming on lung function by training their respiratory muscles.
Methods. The study involved 22 young students, aged 19 to 24, divided into two groups. One group of 11 participants took part in a swimming and apnea exercise program for eight weeks, three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), with each session lasting 50 minutes. The second group, consisting of 11 participants, served as a control group, where only intermediate and final measurements were taken for comparison purposes. Lung function parameters measured included forced vital capacity (FVC, in liters), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, in liters), the FEV1/FVC ratio (in %), peak expiratory flow (PEF, in liters/second), FEV25-75 (volume of air expelled between the first and third quarters of vital capacity, in liters/second), FEV6 (forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds, in liters), and the FEV1/FEV6 ratio (in %).
Results. Spirometry test results showed statistically significant differences between initial (TI) and final testing (TF), with respiratory parameters improving by approximately 18% from the initial values before the swimming program began. This increase is attributed to underwater exercises that strengthen respiratory muscles and enhance their efficiency.
Conclusions. Our research demonstrates that the acute effects of swimming training can significantly improve lung function by increasing lung volume and respiratory flow rates.
Keywords: respiratory muscles, training, lung capacity
Development of respiratory function through swimming and apnea exercises in the pool
