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Brief high intensity exercise induces peripheral leukocytosis possibly leading to a higher incidence of allergic symptoms in athletes undergoing excessive training. We studied the exercise-induced alternation of circulating Tregs and FoxP3+ Tregs due to acute intense swim exercise in elite swimmers (n = 22, 12 males, age = 15.4 yrs). Twelve had prior or current rhinitis or asthma and 10 had no current or prior allergy or asthma. Circulating Tregs increased significantly (p < .001) following exercise (pre = 133 ± 11.2, post = 196 ± 17.6) as did FoxP3+ cells (pre = 44, post = 64 cells/μl). Increases in Tregs and FoxP3+ Tregs occurred to the same extent in both groups of adolescent swimmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal was to determine whether the achievement of finalist positions in the Junior Championship was associated with the achievement of success in the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championship (WC). Secondary goals included analyzing the effect of various factors (gender, age, country, etc) on swimmers’ performances. Data were obtained from FINA information about the finalists from 2007 to 2015 WCs and finalists from 2006 to 2013 Junior-WCs (2400 entries). Final filtered database just included swimmers who participated in both junior and senior WCs (719 entries). A univariate general linear model (GLM) was used to examine the association between time; origin (swimmer who participated in Junior WC or not); maintenance years (number of years achieving finalist positions); country; and age, adjusting for year of competition. An ordinal logistic regression (OLR) model was used to identify predictors of achieving the top positions. The origin variable was not significant in either the GLM or the OLR. The only significant variables in the GLM were maintenance years (F4,706 = 7.689; p < .05) and year of competition (F4,706 = 23.239; p < .05). The OLR revealed a strong association (p < .001) between the position variable and maintenance years, getting better positions as you get more WCs (odds = 1.85). In conclusion, no evidence was obtained to conclude finalist position in Junior WC have influence in achieve success in FINA WC. Maintenance years in WCs have a positive impact to achieve better positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Swimming performance depends on the swimmer's capacity to generate mechanical power and resist fatigue. As short intense exercise (up to 1 min in duration) depends heavily on anaerobic energy release, glycolytic contribution seems fundamental for performing the 50 m and 100 m swimming events. Swimming velocity is also highly dependent on swimmers' technique, which could be assessed with stroke frequency (SR) and stroke length (SL). Aim of Study. The study aimed to analyse changes of metabolic and technical parameters in swimmers performing a maximal 100-m all-out front crawl. Material and Methods. Seven well-trained male swimmers (51.79 + 1.1 s at 100 m freestyle), performed an 100-m all-out front crawl, with intermediate velocity, SR, and SL assessed at each 25 m of the covered test distance. To estimate changes in blood lactate concentrations ([La-]), the blood lactate increasing speed (BLIS) methodology was used, with swimmers performing 25, 50 and 75 m front crawl bouts (controlled with a visual pacer) at the previously assessed velocities in each split of the 100 m test. [LaLa-] were assessed before and immediately after each trial (until reaching the peak [La-]), with BLIS determined with the time rate of net [La-] per split. SR and SL were assessed using a video camera and a chronometer. Means and SD, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and ANOVA for repeated measures were used (p < 0.05) for statistical analysis. Results. The average velocity of the 100 m test was 1.89 ± 0.15 m·s-1, decreasing during the first three laps (and increasing in the last 25 m), concurrently with an increase in SR and a decrease in SL. [La-] increased throughout the test (to 15.01 ± 1.42 mmol·l-1), and BLIS diminished during the first three laps, while increasing during the last one. Conclusions. Glycolytic power determines the first 25 m lap of a maximal 100 m front crawl effort, causing fatigue effects measured with simple biomechanical parameters. A volitive effect of metabolic pathways can be observed in the last 25 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in muscle activation pattern and co-contraction of the rectus and biceps femoris in flutter-kick swimming between competitive and recreational swimmers, to better understand the mechanism of repetitive kicking movements during swimming. Ten competitive and 10 recreational swimmers swam using flutter kicks at three different velocities (100%, 90%, and 80% of their maximal velocity) in a swimming flume. Surface electromyographic signals (EMG) were obtained from the rectus (RF) and biceps femoris (BF), and lower limb kinematic data were obtained at the same time. The beginning and ending of one kick cycle was defined as when the right lateral malleolus reached its highest position in the vertical axis. The offset timing of muscle activation of RF in the recreational swimmers was significantly later at all velocities than in the competitive swimmers (47-48% and 26-33% of kick time of one cycle for recreational and competitive swimmers, respectively), although the kinematic data and other activation timing of RF and BF did not differ between groups. A higher integrated EMG of RF during hip extension and knee extension induced a higher level of muscle co-contraction between RF and BF in the recreational swimmers. These results suggest that long-term competitive swimming training can induce an effective muscle activation pattern in the upper legs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artistic swimming (AS) is a very unique sport consisting of difficult artistically choreographed routines ranging in the number of athletes (one to ten: solo, duet, team, combination, highlight routine) and with elements performed quickly and precisely above, below, and on the surface of the water. As a result, the physical and physiological demands placed on an athlete are unique to the sport with the most pronounced adaptation being the bradycardic response to long apneic periods spent underwater while performing strenuous movements. This indeed influences training prescription and the desired training outcomes. This review paper explores the physiological demands of AS, the physiological characteristics that influence AS performance, and innovative approaches to enhancing training and performance in elite performers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs on medical topics in 2014. The harm caused by pathogens in pools to swimmers in the U.S. is reported. Research in Hibbing, Minnesota reveals the significant contribution of a community-based intervention in increasing the use of aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention. Also noted is the discovery of new phlebovirus killing shy albatross colony in Australia.

The article comments on the paper "Utility of Regular Medical Examinations of Occupational Divers," by Sames C. Gorman, S. J. Mitchell, and G. Gamble. According to the author, the study should need to include the monitoring of the consequences of exposure to diving hazards such as hearing loss, juxta-articular necrosis, welding-fume exposure or exposure to in-water contaminants. He suggests the need to increase medical surveillance for international acceptance of exposure of divers to hazards at work.