INFANTS’ PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO FOUR MONTHS OF A SWIMMING PROGRAM

Alberto RAMOS 1, Daniel MARINHO 1, Tiago BARBOSA 2 & Mário COSTA 3

1 Universidade da Beira Interior2 Nanyang Technological University

3 Instituto Politécnico da Guarda

Introduction

-Decreases in drowning chances

-Improved motor skills

-Social development

Infants’ participation in aquatic activities increased remarkably in the last few years

Introduction

Studies on the acute physiological responses to water routines over infancy are few

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the infants’ physiological response before and after a swimming program

Methods

Infants’ with their parents

• 14 infants’ (26- 44 months)

They were tested before (M1) and 4 months after (M2) a swimming program

Twice a week with a duration of 30 min each

Methods

The physiological response was assessed based on heart ratemeasurements (HR, bpm)

Infants’ were excluded if:

(i) expressing negative reactions like crying while using the heart rate monitor

(ii) not attend at least to 80% of the swimming sessions

Methods

(i) individual displacement in prone position (InD)

(ii) accompanied displacement in prone position (AcD)

(iii) immersion(im)(iv) jump from the deck (JD)

(v) sliding from the platform (Sli).

Methods

Results and Discussion

HR @ Skill Relative Changes (%)

FC@InD -3,90±7,36

FC@AcD 1,10±13,78

FC@Im -14,17±17,76

FC@JD -10,36±12,70

FC@Sli -3,48±6,40

Results and Discussion

Involved some fear in the first experience Less stressful behaviour over the time

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that infants’ experience significant physiological adaptations while participating on a swimming program

The HR decrease indicates that less physical energy is necessary to have success in water tasks.

Alberto RAMOSDaniel MARINHO Tiago BARBOSAMário COSTA