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Trainability of underwater breath-holding time
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|December 1, 1984
Summary
Breath-holding time (BHT) underwater significantly improves with short-term training. This enhancement results from both physiological adaptations, like unconscious hyperventilation, and psychological adjustments to the urge to breathe.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Sports Science
- Diving Medicine
Background:
- Breath-holding time (BHT) is known to increase with training.
- The effectiveness of short-term underwater BHT training and its underlying mechanisms require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if underwater breath-holding time can be significantly trained in a short period.
- To investigate the physiological and psychological factors contributing to increased underwater BHT.
Main Methods:
- 64 subjects underwent two training protocols involving breath-holds with underwater immersion.
- Breath-holding time and the onset of involuntary respiratory movements were recorded.
- Training involved either 2 daily breath-holds for 5 days or 5 repeated breath-holds with 3-minute rests.
Main Results:
- Underwater BHT increased significantly, especially with repeated breath-holds (160% in series II).
- Subjects showing respiratory movements had considerably higher BHT than those who did not reach the "onset point".
- Time without respiratory movements increased substantially (up to 233% in series II), alongside increased tolerance to the urge to breathe.
Conclusions:
- Underwater breath-holding time is highly trainable over short periods.
- Increased BHT is attributed to unconscious hyperventilation and psychological adaptation to the sensation of breathlessness.
- Training protocols can effectively enhance both physiological and psychological components of breath-holding capacity.