Pledoarie pentru înot

PLEADING FOR SWIMMING

Although we are terrestrial beings, we want to explore the aquatic environment, an environment for which we are not prepared or adapted, but which we want to know ... in depth. But what do we know about water? Relatively little. Water sustains life. It covers about 70% of the Earth's surface and has vast resources. It has a unique geology, a spectacular flora and fauna.

What interests us, however, are the numerous functional changes that occur when we dive or swim. Only by understanding what happens to our body in this atypical environment, we can carry out aquatic activities (AA) in a sense favorable to the body. Depending on the objective pursued, AA can be: activities for maintaining or improving the physical condition - aqua-fitness, activities for developing the psycho-physical potential - sports swimming and activities with prophylactic or therapeutic role - hydrokinetotherapy.

Regardless of which type of AA we refer to, the immersion at a temperature of about 33-34 ° C, transfers the blood from the lower segments to the chest. In the chest, increased blood volume causes increased blood pressure, which in turn causes baroreflex-neuroendocrine responses. According to specialists, this self-transfusion can persist for up to 24 hours, and immersion and swimming gradually induce cardio-circulatory adaptations.
Moreover, through AA performed over time, whether they are performance or maintenance, systolic blood pressure increases due to the increased contraction force of the heart. By predominantly aerobic loads, the circulating blood volume increases, and the ventricular walls hypertrophy. The heart becomes strong and the oxygenated muscles will tolerate the physical exertion more and more.

Intensification of respiration in the fluid environment and apnea for short periods of time (possible only in humans and mammals) promotes hypercapnia (CO2 retention) and compensatory improves arterial ventilation and thoracic enlargement. Increased diffusion capacity of O2 and hemoglobin, intensification of muscle irrigation through better capillaries, through prolonged contact of capillary blood with tissues interested in effort, thus contributes to the development of respiratory and muscular systems.

In conclusion, AA influences are multiple. Without wishing to expose them in this context, we can say that it is necessary to SWIM FOR HEALTH!

Prof. univ. Dr. Luciela Vasile