Effects of aerobic and anaerobic training on freedivers' performance

BACKGROUND: Freediving is a sport that could be defined as both aerobic and anaerobic. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic-anaerobic training on the performance of moderate and elite freedivers. METHODS: The sample of participants included 26 freedivers (9 females) (average age of 26.62 +/- 3.34 years, body height of 178.95 +/- 9.19 cm, and body mass of 74.64 +/- 11.97 kg). The sample of variables included: anthropometric indices, relative maximal oxygen consumption (rVO(2max)), with monofin (DYN), maximal swimming length for 2 minutes (2 min). The study procedure included a 5-month aerobic-anaerobic training intervention. This intervention was conducted during a 4-phase (5-week each) training period. RESULTS: The results showed that moderate group showed a significant decrease in 100 m (final 83.94 +/- 15.68; initial 88.29 +/- 16.73; P<0.00), DAST(max) (final 10.91 +/- 1.46; initial 12.01 +/- 1.38; P<0.00), DAST(final 70.29 +/- 8.95; initial 79.40 +/- 10.25; P<0.00), SAST(max) (final 16.81 +/- 2.24; initial 18.01 +/- 2.69; P<0.00), SAST(final 112.87 +/- 19.19; initial 122.65 +/- 21.55; P<0.00), and increase in 2 min (final 140.56 +/- 21.53; initial 128.68 +/- 19.33; P<0.00), and DYN (final 130.48 +/- 26.89; initial 91.65; P<0.00). Similarly, the elite group experienced a decrease in 100 m (final 72.18 +/- 9.77; initial 75.00 +/- 11.36; p=0.02), DAST(max) (final 10.14 +/- 0.95; initial 10.88 +/- 0.99; P=0.03), DAST (final 65.55 +/- 6.50; initial 71.24 +/- 7.32; p=0.02), SaST(max) (final 14.82 +/- 1.84; initial 15.76 +/- 1.80; P=0.03), and increase in DYN (final 194.94 +/- 27.70; initial 161.11 +/- 27.70; P<0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that dynamic apnea, as a main performance factor, had increase in all phases of procedure, with highest increase during anaerobic phases.