Effects of glossopharyngeal pistoning for lung insufflation in elite swimmers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether sessions of glossopharyngeal pistoning (GP) to lung volumes exceeding maximum inspiratory capacity in a group of extremely well-trained elite swimmers would affect maximum lung volumes and buoyancies.


METHODS
Ten female and 16 male swimmers performed GP four times a week for 5 wk in addition to their regular swimming training program. Pulmonary function, chest expansion, hydrostatic weights (maximally inhaled and exhaled), and body composition (relative amounts of fat, bone, muscle, and fat-free tissue) were measured.


RESULTS
Training compliance was 79% for the males and 82% for the females. Chest expansion increased significantly during the training period, by 1.0 cm and by 0.8 cm at the level of the xiphiod and the fourth costae for the males, and by 0.6 cm and 0.8 cm for the females. The buoyancy lifting force increased significantly by 0.17 and 0.37 kg for the males and the females, respectively. The females also increased their vital capacity significantly by 2%. No significant changes in body composition took place in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
The lung volumes and buoyancies of swimmers can be increased by sessions of GP.
Nygren-Bonnier
Malin
M
1Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. malin.nygren-bonnier@karolinska.se
Gullstrand
Lennart
L
Klefbeck
Brita
B
Lindholm
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D013548:Sweden; D013550:Swimming