Abbas Ali Gaeini
Hamed Faragardi
Sadegh Satarifard

Introduction: Holding the breath during exercise causes hypoxia. This study set out to investigate the effect of the ۱۲-week hypoxic interval training on lung volume and records of elite swimmers in ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ meters breaststroke. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, ۲۲ male swimmers were randomly divided into the hypoxic interval training group (n: ۱۳; age: ۱۶.۶۱±۱.۳۹ years; height: ۱۷۷.۹۲±۱.۹۴ cm; weight ۷۰.۱۷±۳.۵۵kg) and normal training group (n: ۹; age: ۱۶.۶۷±۱.۱۶ years; height: ۱۷۶.۳۳±۵.۲۴cm; weight ۶۷.۸۳±۴.۲۴kg). The hypoxic interval training program included ۳-۸ sets of ۲۵-۲۰۰ m breaststroke and the butterfly (breathing every ۴-۶ strokes), six-time per week for ۱۲ weeks. The normal training routine performed without breath-holding (breathing every ۲ strokes). The FIVC, FEV۱, FVC, and FIV۱ parameters, as well as records in ۵۰m and ۱۰۰m swimming were measured pre- and post-training. The obtained data was analyzed with ANCOVA (P<۰.۰۵). Results: Swimmers' records in both ۵۰ m and ۱۰۰ m swimming scenarios significantly decreased after the application of the hypoxic interval training program. The FIVC, FEV۱, FVC, and FIV۱ parameters significantly increased only after the hypoxic training (P<۰.۰۵); in addition, the post-training values of these variables were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (P<۰.۰۵). However, no significant change was observed in the values of these variables in the normal training group (control). Conclusion: It seems that the ۱۲-week hypoxic interval training program can increase the lung volume and improve the records of the elite swimmers in ۵۰m and ۱۰۰m breaststroke.

Hypoxic, Lung Volume, Swimming Record, Hypoxic, Lung Volume, Swimming Record