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
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