The aim was to assess the cardiac, arterial oxygen saturation, lactate, hormonal and Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) responses to acute apnea in relation to apnea capacity in 18 middle-aged triathletes. Subjects were monitored while swimming two 50-m freestyle exercise trials with fins at maximal speed: with normal frequency breathing (NB) and with complete apnea (Ap); the latter was used to assess apnea capacity. The subjects with significant alteration in swimming performance inducing a time increase greater than 2.5% during Ap vs. NB were put in the group: bad apnea capacity (Bad Ap); the others, who showed no significant alteration in performance, were put in the group: Good Ap. Under apnea, both groups showed a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation (p<0.05). In Ap conditions, only Bad Ap had a significant lower maximal heart rate vs. NB (p<0.05), with lower blood lactate (p<0.05) and arm stroke frequency (p<0.01). No change in saliva hormonal concentrations was found during the experiment for both groups, whereas RPE responses were increased in the Good Ap group under Ap vs. NB conditions. In conclusion, a good apnea capacity seems to be associated with lower cardiovascular and metabolic apnea alterations in middle-aged recreationally-trained triathletes.
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