Enhancing swimming training with core and suspension resistance exercises: Effects on respiratory functions, body composition, and strength performance

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of core and suspension exercises combined with swimming training on respiratory functions, body composition, swimming performance, and strength parameters in sedentary male adolescents aged 12-16 years. The study sought to compare the effects of swimming training alone with the additional benefits of integrating core and suspension exercises. Method: Conducted at a private swimming club in Diyarbakır, the study included 36 healthy sedentary males (aged 12-16 years), randomly assigned to three groups (n=12 per group): swimming-only, swimming + core training, and swimming + suspension (TRX) training. Each group underwent a 12-week exercise program, consisting of 60-minute sessions three times per week. Respiratory functions (Chestgraph HI-101 device), body composition (Tanita BC-418MA), strength parameters (Takei dynamometer), and 100-meter freestyle swimming time (Electronic Daktronics Scoreboard and Delta LP-100 stopwatch) were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS 28.0 (p < 0.05). Findings: Improvements in respiratory functions, body composition, and strength parameters were observed in all groups. The core and suspension training groups exhibited more pronounced improvements, although no significant differences were found between groups. Swimming performance (100-meter freestyle time) improved in all groups, but no statistically significant differences were detected between groups. Conclusion: The findings indicate that swimming training is effective in enhancing physical fitness in sedentary adolescents, with core and suspension exercises providing additional benefits in respiratory functions, body composition, and strength parameters. Combined exercise programs can be recommended as an effective method to improve physical fitness in sedentary youth. Future studies should explore these effects in different age groups and with longer intervention periods. Keywords: Body Composition, Core Training, Respiratory Functions, Suspension Exercise, Swimming