Proposal of alternative mechanism responsible for the function of high-speed swimsuits.
Since many top swimmers wearing Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits have broken world records, it is considered that the corset-like grip of suit supports the swimmers to maintain flexibility of movement and reducing water resistance. We propose an alternative mechanism to explain this phenomenon. The suits are so tight that the blood circulation of swimmers is suppressed. This effect accelerates the anaerobic glycolysis system but rather suppresses the aerobic mitochondrial respiration system. Because of the prompt production of ATP in the glycolysis system, the swimmers, especially in short distance competitions, obtain instantaneous force in white fibers of the skeletal muscles.
Kainuma
Eisuke
E
Department of Immunology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
Watanabe
Mayumi
M
Tomiyama-Miyaji
Chikako
C
Inoue
Masashi
M
Kuwano
Yuh
Y
Ren
HongWei
H
Abo
Toru
T
D000332:Aerobiosis / Q000502:physiology; D001775:Blood Circulation; D003020:Clothing; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000473:pathology; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000473:pathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*