title: An electromyographic evaluation of dual role breathing and upper body muscles in response to front crawl swimming.
abstract: The upper body trunk musculature is key in supporting breathing, propulsion, and stabilization during front crawl swimming. The aim of this study was to determine if the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior contributed to the development of inspiratory muscle fatigue observed following front crawl swimming. Fourteen trained swimmers completed a 200-m front crawl swim at 90% of race pace. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (PImax and PEmax) were assessed before (baseline) and after each swim, and electromyography was recorded from the three muscles. Post-swim PImax fell by 11% (P < 0.001, d = 0.57) and the median frequency (MDF: a measure of fatigue) of the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior fell to 90% (P = 0.001, d = 1.57), 87% (P = 0.001, r = -0.60) and 89% (P = 0.018, d = 1.04) of baseline, respectively. The fall in serratus anterior MDF was correlated with breathing frequency (r = 0.675, P = 0.008) and stroke rate (r = 0.639, P = 0.014). The results suggest that the occurrence of inspiratory muscle fatigue was partly caused by fatigue of these muscles, and that breathing frequency and stroke rate particularly affect the serratus anterior.
authors: Department of Sports and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lomax
authors: School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, UK.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Tasker
authors: Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Bostanci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D045853:Exhalation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D056152:Respiratory Rate; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Median frequency; fatigue; inspiratory mouth pressure