Changes in Lung Diffusing Capacity of Elite Artistic Swimmers During Training.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Physiology
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Artistic swimmers (AS) undergo intense training involving repeated breath-holds (apnoeas) and aquatic exercise.
• These conditions can elicit specific physiological adaptations related to training, apnoea, and water immersion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamic changes in lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in elite artistic swimmers.
• To assess DLCO levels at pre-training, mid-training (after apnoeic swimming), and post-training (after figures and choreography).

Main Methods:

• Eleven elite female artistic swimmers from the Spanish national team participated.
• Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was measured using the single-breath method.
• One-way repeated measures ANOVA was employed for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Basal DLCO values were elevated compared to normative data for age and height.
• A significant increase in DLCO was observed after apnoeic swimming (mid-training).
• DLCO decreased after figures and choreography (post-training) compared to mid-training levels, but no significant difference was found from pre- to post-training.

Conclusions:

• Artistic swimming training induces significant, dynamic alterations in lung diffusing capacity.
• Apnoeic swimming components lead to a notable, albeit temporary, enhancement of DLCO.
• While DLCO fluctuates during a training session, overall pre- to post-training levels remain consistent, with considerable inter-individual variation.