IMPACTS OF COLD AIR ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CARDIOPULMONARY FUNCTION AND ATHLETIC SKILLS IN SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING

ABSTRACT Introduction: Synchronized swimming is a sport that demands high cardiopulmonary capacity from the athletes, physical conditioning, excellent swimming, and aerobic metabolism preparation. Long-term exposure to cold air is a key factor that affects lung function, affecting the athlete’s performance in synchronized swimming. This exposure can lead to inflammation of the athletes’ airways, although few studies have analyzed the changes in cardiorespiratory conditioning during competition. Objective: This study aims to analyze the effect of synchronized swimming athletes’ cardiopulmonary function on competition performance in cold air environments. Methods: This paper selects volunteer swimmers for the research. Ventilation tests are performed to collect data and to analyze the effect of training on cardiorespiratory conditioning during swimming. Results: There were significant differences in small airway function, generally defined as airways with caliber < 2 mm internal diameter, without cartilage, values measured among synchronized swimmers (P<0.05). There were significant differences in forced vital capacity, and one-second forced expiratory rate between synchronized swimmers (P<0.05). Conclusion: Synchronized swimmers may have their small airway function impaired due to the inherent characteristics of the sport. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.