Hello everyone - I am new to this group. I have been swimming freestyle for several years now and really enjoy it. I have worked hard at perfecting my stroke. I know what I should be doing and try hard to put it into practice. I have definitely become a stronger swimmer. I have a condition called "pectus excavatum". It makes my chest look a bit goofy with a depression in the centre and oversised lower ribs (called flared ribs). Some of you may have noticed that Peter van den hoogenband has it. I have read some articles that it can reduce your lung capacity. When swimming freestyle I have to stop for several minutes every 50 metres and was wondering whether this could be caused by my condition. Has anyone had any experience with this?
Regards Johnathon:confused:
Jonathan,
I interviewed various exercise physiologists several years ago for an article on getting in the best shape of your life. One of my questions was how you could increase your so-called "vital capacity"--i.e., how much oxygen your lungs can take in. To my surprise, the consensus answer I got was A) there's not much you can do--your lung capacity is your lung capacity, and you can't grow it any greater, and B) even so, this doesn't really matter--because the limiting factor is almost always not how much oxygen your lungs take in, but how much oxygen your muscles uptake from the blood stream. Training can make a huge difference in the latter; there have been Olympians and other elite atheltes with only one lung who have performed superby.
My advice: forget about your chest concavity; in all likelihood, your lungs are taking in more than enough oxygen. With progressively greater work, your muscles, capillaries, hemoglobin, blood volume, etc. will all gradually adapt so that your system will be able to better use the oxygen you are taking in.
Bottom line: I am virtually positive the p.e. business is a red herring here, so to speak. Just keep working out and give your physiology a chance to adapt. I have a teammate with p.e., and it hasn't affected his swimming negatively at all. Evidentally, the same can be said for the Dutchman.
Jonathan,
I interviewed various exercise physiologists several years ago for an article on getting in the best shape of your life. One of my questions was how you could increase your so-called "vital capacity"--i.e., how much oxygen your lungs can take in. To my surprise, the consensus answer I got was A) there's not much you can do--your lung capacity is your lung capacity, and you can't grow it any greater, and B) even so, this doesn't really matter--because the limiting factor is almost always not how much oxygen your lungs take in, but how much oxygen your muscles uptake from the blood stream. Training can make a huge difference in the latter; there have been Olympians and other elite atheltes with only one lung who have performed superby.
My advice: forget about your chest concavity; in all likelihood, your lungs are taking in more than enough oxygen. With progressively greater work, your muscles, capillaries, hemoglobin, blood volume, etc. will all gradually adapt so that your system will be able to better use the oxygen you are taking in.
Bottom line: I am virtually positive the p.e. business is a red herring here, so to speak. Just keep working out and give your physiology a chance to adapt. I have a teammate with p.e., and it hasn't affected his swimming negatively at all. Evidentally, the same can be said for the Dutchman.
