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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
09:24
A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
Published on: January 28, 2020
Fin swimming improves respiratory gas exchange
Y Jammes1, M Coulange, S Delliaux
1Faculty of Medicine, UMR MD2 P2COE, Marseille, France. yves.jammes@univmed.fr
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|February 10, 2009
Summary
Fin swimming may delay anaerobic metabolism activation compared to cycling. This study found a depressed cardiopulmonary response during fin swimming, suggesting delayed anaerobic response in muscles.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Literature suggests fin swimming may delay anaerobic metabolism activation compared to dry-land exercise.
- Understanding the physiological responses to fin swimming is crucial for optimizing training and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that fin swimming delays anaerobic metabolism activation.
- To compare physiological responses during incremental fin swimming and dry-land cycling.
Main Methods:
- Thirteen participants performed incremental fin swimming and maximal cycloergometer exercise.
- Measurements included heart rate (HR), ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), oxygen uptake (VO(2)), and carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)).
- Ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) were determined.
Main Results:
- Fin swimming showed an elevated or absent ventilatory threshold compared to cycling.
- Maximal HR was lower (-18%) and maximal oxygen pulse (VO(2)/HR) was higher (+20%) during fin swimming.
- Maximal carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)) was lower (-17%) in fin swimming, with reduced VE, VT, and HR variations for a given VO(2) increase.
Conclusions:
- Fin swimming appears to delay the onset of anaerobic muscle metabolism.
- An attenuated chemoreflex drive from muscle metabolites may explain the blunted cardiopulmonary response observed in fin swimming.
- These findings have implications for understanding the physiological demands of fin swimming.
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