Respiratory adaptation in the aquatic environment
The act of breathing underwater differs significantly from breathing on dry land. When you dive, you must adjust your breathing to the aquatic conditions, which can be challenging.
While on land breathing is an involuntary process, in water it becomes voluntary. That is, you must consciously decide when to inhale and exhale.
Failure to maintain adequate breathing during swimming can have several negative effects, such as increasing drag and causing premature fatigue.
Consequences of bad breathing
Improper breathing can cause hypoxia, a lack of oxygen in the body, leading to early fatigue and the need to stop during the swimming session.
Breathing technique in water
The way you breathe in water is different from that on land. While on land it is recommended to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, in water it is the opposite: you inhale through your mouth and exhale through your nose.
The reason behind this technique is to allow more air intake when inhaling through the mouth, while exhaling through the nose is done more slowly, which prolongs the retention time of air in the body.
How it affects respiratory rate
The frequency of breathing in water varies depending on the person and the level of training. It is advisable to breathe every 2 or 3 strokes to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the body.
Breathing on every stroke can cause dizziness due to lack of time for a full inhalation, while breathing every 7 or more strokes can result in hypoxia.
Crawl style breathing technique
The front crawl is essential in swimming, and learning to breathe correctly in this style is essential. Inspiration is done through the mouth at the end of the stroke of the right arm, with the body turned to the right side.
It is important to coordinate the movement of the head with the turn of the body to avoid excessive resistance to progress.
Common mistakes in breathing technique
Raising or turning your head incorrectly when breathing can increase drag and cause strain on your neck muscles.
It is essential to keep the head aligned with the body during the breathing movement for more efficient swimming.
Training to improve breathing
There are specific exercises to improve breathing technique in swimming, such as practicing breathing on the edge of the pool and vertical jumps with controlled inhalations and exhalations.
It is important to master these exercises before integrating breathing into continuous swimming, to avoid problems with hypoxia or premature fatigue.
Improving breathing technique in swimming not only increases efficiency in the water, but also contributes to better overall performance.
