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Related Concept Videos

Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers01:17

Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers

Breathing is primarily an involuntary activity regulated by the brainstem respiratory centers. However, it can also be consciously controlled, allowing us to hold our breath or take deeper breaths when needed. This voluntary control is facilitated by the cerebral motor cortex, which bypasses the medullary centers to stimulate the respiratory muscles directly.
However, the ability to hold one's breath voluntarily is not limitless. When the CO2 concentration in the blood reaches a critical level,...
Breathing01:05

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
Physiology of Respiration II: Neurogenic Control of Respiration01:22

Physiology of Respiration II: Neurogenic Control of Respiration

The neurogenic control of respiration coordinates various neural networks and pathways to regulate breathing rate and depth, meeting the body's oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange requirements. This system adapts to physiological and environmental conditions, ensuring optimal breathing patterns.
Central Control
The brainstem is the primary site of central control, hosting respiratory centers:
Physiological Control of Respiration01:23

Physiological Control of Respiration

Introduction
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers01:31

Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers

Chemical factors such as changing CO2, O2, and H+ levels in arterial blood play a critical role in influencing respiration depth and rates. These variations are detected by chemoreceptors—specialized sensors located in two primary body areas. Central chemoreceptors are found throughout the brain stem, including the ventrolateral medulla, while peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries.
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles01:21

Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles

The Role of Accessory Muscles in the Respiratory System
The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation.
Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles:
Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...

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Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities
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Does breathing disturb coordination in butterfly?

L Seifert1, D Chollet, R Sanders

  • 1Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Rouen, CETAPS EA 3832, Mont Saint Aignan, France. ludovic.seifert@univ-rouen.fr

International Journal of Sports Medicine
|February 19, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Breathing in butterfly stroke reduces arm-leg coordination, increasing the total time gap between movements. This indicates less continuous propulsion, impacting swimming efficiency.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Biomechanics
  • Swimming Performance

Background:

  • Effective arm-leg coordination is crucial for optimizing propulsion in swimming.
  • The butterfly stroke presents unique challenges for synchronizing upper and lower body movements.
  • Breathing incurs significant biomechanical alterations during the swimming cycle.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the impact of breathing versus breath-holding on arm-leg coordination in the butterfly stroke.
  • To analyze the effects of different swimming paces on coordination dynamics.
  • To identify specific stroke phase modifications associated with breathing.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve elite male swimmers performed the butterfly stroke at four different paces (50m to 400m).
  • Video analysis was used to identify key phases of the arm and leg strokes.
  • Total Time Gap (TTG) was calculated by summing specific time intervals (T1-T4) to assess coordination.

Main Results:

  • Breathing significantly increased the Total Time Gap (TTG) by 23.3% compared to breath-holding (19%, p<0.05).
  • Breathing resulted in a shorter downward leg kick and extended arm catch/upward leg kick phases, increasing glide time.
  • A shorter arm push phase was observed during breathing to facilitate head rotation for air intake.

Conclusions:

  • Breathing disrupts arm-leg coordination in butterfly stroke, leading to reduced propulsive continuity.
  • Modified stroke mechanics during breathing, including extended glide and shortened push, negatively affect overall propulsive efficiency.
  • Understanding these coordination changes is vital for optimizing technique and performance in butterfly swimmers.