I have a new ( young ) coach. He includes breath control sets. Does any one else think this could be dangerous for older (56 years old) swimmers? My MD thought it was crazy. I have noticed quite a few Masters swimmers dying from strokes. An old coach of mine said USA Swimming had banned hypoxic training for kids for a while.
I don't believe there is any evidence of this at all. Perhaps it seems to be true - but it is probably just the mental toughness that develops for this through practice. But physiologically I do not believe hypoxic training expands lung capacity.
Please cite some data if you know of any.
I can only speak from my personal experience and observations, not from a technical standpoint.
I agree that hypoxic works doesn't expand lung capacity/volume.
But I have seen too many (mentally tough) swimmers try to do in a race what they don't practice, and they can't. A typical declaration would be something like "I'm going to take X SDKs off each wall in this 200" (or whatever) and then dying like a dog when they try it.
I don't think it is necessary to hold your breath until you are uncomfortable, but I do think you should train like you plan to race. That's why the whole "breathe every 7 strokes" thing...well yes, it can serve some purposes -- stroke efficiency and the like -- but I can often take it or leave it.
As someone who has worked to increase the # of kicks I take off the walls in races over the past years, I don't think it is completely a psychological adaptation (though there is that) but something physiological as well.
I also think Paul Wolf, in the first reply in this thread, gave a pretty great answer.
I don't believe there is any evidence of this at all. Perhaps it seems to be true - but it is probably just the mental toughness that develops for this through practice. But physiologically I do not believe hypoxic training expands lung capacity.
Please cite some data if you know of any.
I can only speak from my personal experience and observations, not from a technical standpoint.
I agree that hypoxic works doesn't expand lung capacity/volume.
But I have seen too many (mentally tough) swimmers try to do in a race what they don't practice, and they can't. A typical declaration would be something like "I'm going to take X SDKs off each wall in this 200" (or whatever) and then dying like a dog when they try it.
I don't think it is necessary to hold your breath until you are uncomfortable, but I do think you should train like you plan to race. That's why the whole "breathe every 7 strokes" thing...well yes, it can serve some purposes -- stroke efficiency and the like -- but I can often take it or leave it.
As someone who has worked to increase the # of kicks I take off the walls in races over the past years, I don't think it is completely a psychological adaptation (though there is that) but something physiological as well.
I also think Paul Wolf, in the first reply in this thread, gave a pretty great answer.
