Table
2: Effects of apnea training on healthy individuals and on athletes.
Researchers |
Participants |
Protocol |
Results |
Conclusions |
Schagatay, et al. [63] |
AP group: 13 M,11 F CC:
2 M, 9 F Apnea group: 5 M, 4 F CC:
3 M, 4 F |
2-month
aerobic gymnastic training programme 2-week
5 maximum effort apneas per day with RI 2’ between trials |
· ↑ aerobic power · ↑ apneic time · Easy-going phase = K · No impact on the DR · No impact on apneic time in RAs · ↑ apneic time · ↑ Easy-going phase · Stronger DR · ↑ apneic time in RA |
Training
effects are specific to the actual training protocol therefore, apnea
training promotes DR characteristics such as bradycardia |
Joulia, et al. [59] |
8
male triathletes |
Repeated apneas of 20 sec
with breathing intervals of 40 sec during
one hour exercise on cycle ergometer at 30% of their VO2max
x 3 times per week for 3 months Tested
for: ·
VO2max
& Vth on CErgo · Static apnea · Dynamic apnea |
·
No
impact on the performance on the cycle ergometer Static apnea · > ↓ Heart Rate · < ↓ pH in blood · > ↑ La · < oxidative stress Dynamic
apnea · 0 oxidative stress |
Apnea training improves tolerance to hypoxemia, the duration of static apnea and eliminates
oxidative stress during dynamic apnea |
Lemaitre,
et
al. [73] |
Four
male swimmers |
3-month
apnea training: · 1 hr cycling x 3 times/week with
apneas of 30 sec and a breathing interval of 30 sec · Max incremental cycling test ·
Max
speed at swimming 50 m freestyle with no breadth |
· ↑ FEV, RCP · ↑ VO2 peak · Min SaO2 · No ↑ Vswim · ↓ SR · ↑ SL · ↑ coordination |
Apnea training improves: ·
performance
in maximal and sub- maximal exercise · swimming technique · continuous propulsion Apnea
↓ RPE & RPD scores |
AP: aerobic power; CC: control group; CERgo: cycle ergometer; CO: cardiac output; DR: diving reflex; F: females; FEV: forced expiratory volume; HCVR: hypercapnic ventilatory response; HR: heart rate; K: unchanged; M: males; Min SAO2: minimal arterial oxygen saturation; RAs: repeated apneas; RCP: respiratory compensation point; RI: rest
interval; RPD: rating of perceived dyspnea; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; SL: stroke length (swimming); SR: stroke rate (swimming); Vswim: velocity (swimming); Vth: Ventilatory threshold-absolute oxygen uptake/body weight;
>: greater; <: less; ↑: increase; ↓: decrease.