Does Breathing Every Two Cycles Reduce the Breaststroke Energy Cost?

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Human Physiology
• Swimming Biomechanics

Background:

• Current World Aquatics rules permit less head emergence during breaststroke cycles.
• Swimmers traditionally breathe every cycle, but new rules allow for breathing every two cycles.
• The bioenergetic impact of these breathing patterns requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the energy cost (C) and bioenergetic variables of breathing every one versus every two cycles in breaststroke.
• To assess the physiological demands associated with different breaststroke breathing frequencies.
• To inform swimmers and coaches on optimal breathing strategies under new regulations.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen swimmers underwent a 6-week training intervention for a new breathing pattern.
• Participants completed a 200-m incremental step test in both breathing conditions (every cycle vs. every two cycles).
• Oxygen consumption (VO2) and blood lactate ([La-]) were measured to determine energy expenditure (E_tot) and C.

Main Results:

• Breathing every cycle resulted in lower peak blood lactate, peak oxygen consumption, total energy expenditure, and energy cost at certain intensities.
• Adjusted analyses indicated higher total energy expenditure when breathing every two cycles at initial stages of the incremental test.
• Both breathing patterns showed strong correlations between total energy expenditure and velocity, but individual responses varied.

Conclusions:

• Breathing every cycle in breaststroke appears more bioenergetically efficient than breathing every two cycles.
• The strategy of breathing every two cycles did not demonstrate effectiveness during incremental efforts compared to breathing every cycle.
• Swimmers may benefit from adopting a 'breathe every cycle' pattern to optimize energy economy under new rules.