Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
12-2014
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Department
Health and Sport Sciences
Degree Program
Exercise Physiology, MS
Committee Chair
Zavorsky, Gerald S.
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Symons, Brock
Committee Member
Harms, Craig A.
Subject
Swimmers--Training of; Breathing exercises; Respiration; Oxygen--Physiological effect
Abstract
Running economy (RE) is the amount of oxygen consumed while running at a submaximal intensity. Along with aerobic capacity (VO2max), RE is an important predictor of running performance. Little research has investigated changes in RE with restricted breathing training [i.e. controlled breath-holding (CFB)] during exercise. RE may improve ~6% amongst a novice swimming cohort through CFB training, but this has not been established in elite swimmers. The purpose was to further establish that CFB training (16 sessions of 12 x 50-m with ~15 seconds rest between each 50-m, using only ~2 breaths per 50-m) can improve RE in 25 elite college swimmers. CFB training did not alter RE. The day-to-day variability in RE (mL/kg/km), energy cost (kcal/kg/km), and VO2max (L/min) was between 2.4 – 3.4%. There was no association between RE (range = 182 to 224 mL/kg/min) and 200 yard freestyle swimming performance (range = 104 to 129 seconds).
Recommended Citation
Sims, Patrick 1988-, "The effect of a controlled frequency breath holding training program on running economy among elite college swimmers." (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1764.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/1764
