Elite swimmers can significantly improve their speed and perform better in the pool by incorporating specific training of the muscles used for breathing, into their regime, according to a new research.
Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have examined how muscle fatigue in the inspiratory muscles can affect overall performance and found that swimmers are especially susceptible to inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF).
According to News.com.au, this fatigue causes the body to divert blood, oxygen and nutrients to the muscles responsible for breathing thus affecting the overall performance of the swimmers, following which the scientists have carried out the research to identify the speed associated with the development of IMF.
Stating that a certain speed affected the extent of inspiratory muscle fatigue in swimmers, researcher Dr Mitch Loman said that by training at a level below this speed, swimmers can focus on improving their technique, make themselves more resistant to fatigue and improve breathing when swimming at a speed as in a competition environment.
Loman further said that by understanding what happens to their breathing at certain speeds, swimmers could tailor their training program to improve both technique and speed to achieve maximum performance in competition
Inspiratory muscle training is already recognised as beneficial in many sports and athletes use a breathing device to make breathing more difficult, forcing the inspiratory muscles to work harder and become stronger, the report added.
