Friday 30 July 2010

Underwater Swimming and the Search for Evidence it's Good

Day: Thursday
Duration: 15 minutes
Workout: 10 underwater lengths with about 45 seconds rest between each (pool=30 metres)
Food: eggs & strawberries with cocoa, an hour later.

I am trying to find out whether underwater swimming can benefit overall fitness. I have mentioned before that I read breath holding can increase growth hormone production, but I now can't find the article.

Given its nature and how it feels, I have a hunch it has to be beneficial, but it would be nice to see some research. Either way, our gym is closing for refurbishment next week and their replacement services do not include a pool - so my ambitions to progress with the underwater swimming will be prevented, thus depriving the world of at least some evidence, albeit n=1...

6 comments:

4 Winds said...

I'm no expert, but there may be training benefits around more efficient O2 use or lowering RHR.

Anonymous said...

www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/highaltitudetraining.htm

Anonymous said...

Worth having a look at the videos for technique

www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/passing_military_swimming_tests.htm

Methuselah said...

Thanks 4 Winds - makes sense.

Anon - great links! You done any of that stuff yourself? I shall certainly be giving it a try. I don't plan on making sure there's a lifeguard there as the article suggests. I reckon we got by just fine when we were diving for crabs in the wild!

Asclepius said...

Googling 'hypoxic training' brings up some interesting links. Might be time to dig out the Speedos!

;)

Methuselah said...

Got it. Hypoxic training. That's where it's at. Plenty to get my teeth into there. Thanks for the tip Asclepius.