The Effects of 8-Week Aerobic Training Program on Respiratory and Circulatory Parameters of Female Swimmers Between 12-14 Years Old

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 8-week aerobic training program on respiratory and circulatory parameters in female swimmers between 12-14 years old. A total of 22 female swimmers, who were between 12-14 years old and joined to the national competitions in the province of Gaziantep, participated as volunteers. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups as experimental group (n=11, age: 13.12±0.69) and control group (n=11, age: 12.56±0.53). Aerobic training program was applied to the experimental group 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Both groups continued their regular swimming trainings. Resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurements of the subjects were performed as circulatory parameters before and after training. These values were measured by Omron M6 Comfort device. Measurements of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced expiratory rate (FEV1/FVC) were performed as respiratory parameters. These values were measured by M.E.C. Pocket Spiro USB-100 instrument. For statistical analysis of data, Paired Sample t test was used for intra-group comparisons, and the Independent Sample t test was used for inter-group comparisons. The level of significance was determined as p<0.05. In the study we performed, the values of RHR, SBP, DBP, VC, FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were found to be significant after the aerobic training program applied to the experimental group (p<0.05). The circulatory parameters of the control group showed significance at p<0.05 level in RHR value. There was no significant difference between SBP and DBP values (p>0.05). The respiratory parameters of the control group were significant in FVC and FEV1 values (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between VC and FEV1/FVC values (p>0.05). As a result, it is thought that aerobic trainings have positive effects on respiratory and circulatory parameters in swimmers. It can be said that regular aerobic training improves respiratory and circulatory parameters. Keywords: Aerobic Training, Respiratory Parameters, Swimming.