Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(05): 425-431
DOI: 10.1055/a-1224-3842
Physiology & Biochemistry

Lifetime Exposure to Recreational Swimming Training and its Effects on Autonomic Responses

Alessandro Piras
1   Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
,
Matteo Cortesi
2   Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
,
Rocco Di Michele
1   Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
,
Aurelio Trofè
2   Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
,
Milena Raffi
1   Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
› Author Affiliations Funding: The research was partially funded by the ALMA IDEA Grant of the University of Bologna. Experiments performed during this research comply with the current laws of Italy.
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to assess the effect of long-term recreational swimming training on the cardiac autonomic responses in the healthy population. 70 habitual recreational swimmers (48.6±14.3 yrs.) and 60 sedentary adults (51.5±10.4 yrs.) were recruited. Arterial blood pressure was recorded with participants in supine position for 10 min, and the last 5 min were used to assess heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, and hemodynamic analysis. The analysis of the questionnaire showed that the swimmers had practiced swimming for a mean of 14 years and 207 min/week. No difference was detected for body mass index between groups. Heart rate variability showed significant differences between groups both in the time and frequency domain analysis. We also found significant differences for baroreflex sensitivity. At rest, cardiac output and stroke volume were higher, whereas, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistances were lower in the swimmers than in the sedentary subjects. Since heart rate variability measures are independent predictors of mortality, the present findings suggest that habitual recreational swimming may be protective against sudden cardiovascular events and, more in general, have a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

Key words

exercise - baroreflex sensitivity - heart rate variability - hemodynamic


Publication History

Received: 04 March 2020

Accepted: 07 July 2020

Article published online:
29 October 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health. World Health Organization; 2010: 10
  • 2 Bessem B, De Bruijn MC, Nieuwland W. et al. The electrocardiographic manifestations of athlete’s heart and their association with exercise exposure. Eur J Sport Sci 2018; 18: 587-593
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Seals DR, Chase PB. Influence of physical training on heart rate variability and baroreflex circulatory control. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1989; 66: 1886-1895
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Camm AJ, Malik M, Bigger JT. et al. Task force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Heart rate variability: Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. Circulation 1996; 93: 1043-1065
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Perini R, Veicsteinas A. Heart rate variability and autonomic activity at rest and during exercise in various physiological conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 90: 317-325
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Tanaka H. Swimming exercise: Impact of aquatic exercise on cardiovascular health. Sports Med 2009; 39: 377-387
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Warburton DER, Katzmarzyk PT, Rhodes RE. et al. Evidence-informed physical activity guidelines for Canadian adults. Can J Public Health 2007; 98 (02) S16-S68
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Lucia A. Elite athletes live longer than the general population: A meta-analysis. Mayo Clin Proc 2014; 89: 1195-1200
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Aubert AE, Seps B, Beckers F. Heart rate variability in athletes. Sports Med 2003; 33: 889-919
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Loimaala A, Huikuri H, Oja P. et al. Controlled 5-mo aerobic training improves heart rate but not heart rate variability or baroreflex sensitivity. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2000; 89: 1825-1829
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Harriss DJ, Macsween A, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2020 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 813-817
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Malliani A, Pagani M, Lombardi F. et al. Cardiovascular neural regulation explored in the frequency domain. Circulation 1991; 84: 482-492
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Pagani M, Lombardi F, Guzzetti S. et al. Power spectral analysis of heart rate and arterial pressure variabilities as a marker of sympatho-vagal interaction in man and conscious dog. Circ Res 1986; 59: 178-193
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Parati G, Di Rienzo M, Mancia G. How to measure baroreflex sensitivity: From the cardiovascular laboratory to daily life. J Hypertens 2000; 18: 7-19
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Bos WJ, van Goudoever J, van Montfrans GA. et al. Reconstruction of brachial artery pressure from noninvasive finger pressure measurements. Circulation 1996; 94: 1870-1875
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd Ed.. Lawrence Erlbaum; Hillsdale, NJ: 1988: 20-26
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Piras A, Persiani M, Damiani N. et al. Peripheral heart action (PHA) training as a valid substitute to high intensity interval training to improve resting cardiovascular changes and autonomic adaptation. Eur J Appl Physiol 2015; 115: 763-773
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Piras A, Gatta G. Evaluation of the effectiveness of compression garments on autonomic nervous system recovery after exercise. J Strength Cond Res 2017; 31: 1636-1643
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Piras A, Cortesi M, Campa F. et al. Recovery time profiling after short-, middle- and long-distance swimming performance. J Strength Cond Res 2019; 33: 1408-1415
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Piras A, Campa F, Toselli S. et al. Physiological responses to partial-body cryotherapy performed during a concurrent strength and endurance session. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2019; 44: 59-65
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Toni G, Belvederi Murri M, Piepoli M. et al. Physical exercise for late-life depression: Effects on heart rate variability. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2016; 24: 989-997
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Nualnim N, Parkhurst K, Dhindsa M. et al. Effects of swimming training on blood pressure and vascular function in adults >50 years of age. Am J Cardiol 2012; 109: 1005-1010
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Yuan WX, Liu HBin, Gao FS. et al. Effects of 8-week swimming training on carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamics in young overweight adults. Biomed Eng Online 2016; 15: 673-684
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Koenig J, Jarczok MN, Wasner M. et al. Heart rate variability and swimming. Sports Med 2014; 44: 1377-1391
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Medeiros A, Oliveira EM, Gianolla R. et al. Swimming training increases cardiac vagal activity and induces cardiac hypertrophy in rats. Braz J Med Biol Res 2004; 37: 1909-1917
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Lazar JM, Khanna N, Chesler R. et al. Swimming and the heart. Int J Cardiol 2013; 168: 19-26
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Piras A, Raffi M, Atmatzidis C. et al. The energy cost of running with the ball in soccer. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 877-882
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Goldberger JJ, Arora R, Buckley U. et al. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction: JACC focus seminar. J Am Coll Cardiol 2019; 73: 1189-1206
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Nabkasorn C, Miyai N, Sootmongkol A. et al. Effects of physical exercise on depression, neuroendocrine stress hormones and physiological fitness in adolescent females with depressive symptoms. Eur J Public Health 2006; 16: 179-184
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Stoll O, Alfermann D. Effects of physical exercise on resources evaluation, body self-concept and well-being among older adults. Anxiety Stress Coping 2002; 15: 311-319
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Laakso L, Telama R, Nupponen H. et al. Trends in leisure time physical activity among young people in Finland, 1977-2007. Eur Phys Educ Rev 2008; 14: 139-155
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Green K. Mission impossible? Reflecting upon the relationship between physical education, youth sport and lifelong participation. Sport, Education and Society 2014; 19: 357-375
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Cornwell WK, Neeland I, Pandey A. et al. Combined Association of Midlife Obesity and Fitness With Longterm Risk of Heart Failure-The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Circulation 2013; 128 (22) A15669
    PubMedGoogle Scholar