 |
Breathing - an Important Factor in Fitness
Author: Gaby Munteanu  | Posted: 19-03-2006 | Comments: 0 | Views: 308 | Rating: (53)  (?) 
With the exception - probably the only one - of pearl gatherers, who dive without any autonomous equipment, breathing counts in all sports - as well as in fitness. Each sport branch has imposed its own breathing style - according to efficiency, effort timing, meteorological conditions etc.
If we take breathing as a taxonomic criterion, sports can be divided in two big groups:
1.The first one includes all the sports that use the technique of respiratory stop or blocking. The most typical among these are force sports such as athletic weight throwing, weightlifting, body building, gymnastics etc. In short, we might say that here the anaerobic extreme is concerned - the one which imposes apnea (blocking the thorax and respiration). The main advantage of diaphragm blocking is the rising, for the moment, of the explosive force of the sportsman. A rise in execution speed for maximum force efforts has also been observed. The classic example is the snatch of weightlifting in which force and speed are simultaneously implied on the basis of respiratory blocking.
This respiratory blocking, inevitable in the above-mentioned sports, has also some disadvantages. Among these we could mention high pressure values in the thorax, abdomen and skull, high pressure on blood vessels with low feed-back through the veins etc. Thus, due to the rising of pressure inside the eyes the aggravation of previous short-sightedness is possible. Also, in the inferior limbs, varicose veins can either appear or worsen. Effort in exclusively anaerobic conditions increases rigidity both in the blood vessels and in the muscles.
2.The second big group is the one of sports that do not use respiratory stop. Here we enter the realm of purely aerobic effort. The typical examples are running races, swimming, cycling etc. - generally efforts on long and very long distances. In these events the muscular force implied is little - medium at most - the stress affecting the cardiovascular component and leading to increased cardiac frequency and pulmonary ventilation.
There is also a third category - mixed sports, both aerobic and anaerobic, in which the two techniques alternate. This is the case of sports games, contact sports, rhythm breaking in medium distance running races, etc. In the case of fitness, as both types of effort - aerobic and anaerobic - are present, apnea, as well as effort without respiratory blockage, is used. As far as correct respiration is concerned, there is a general rule stating that one should breath out during the most difficult part of the movement (the positive or concentric course) and breath in during come-back (the negative or eccentric course). Within these courses, we can have or not have a respiratory stop/ blockage. If we have it, it will occur at the critical point of the course.
Another breathing rule is the one that takes into consideration the dilatation of the thorax. In this case, breathing in is done on the course which allows thorax expansion, and breathing out on the movement that contracts it. In both cases, breathing in is done through the nose - in order to filter and warm up the air flow and breathing out is done through the mouth in order to be faster and more efficient.
It is interesting to know that the 'shouting' that we hear in many weightlifting training sessions or contests, is actually the sound of forced breathing out.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/breathing-an-important-factor-in-fitness-18988.html
About the Author:Gaby Munteanu is a fitness trainer, with over 15 years experience, and editor at http://www.healthfitnessworld.com.
HealthFitnessWorld.com is dedicated to providing high-quality, free advices, tips and resources on health, fitness, body building, supplements, nutrition, weight loss, beauty, massage, acne, medicine, depression, massage.
HealthFitnessWorld.com - Fitness, Body Building, Exercise, Weight Loss, Nutrition - Articles and Resources.
This article may be reprinted or published without the author's consent as long as the "About" and "weblinks" are kept intact and active.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Aerobic vs Anaerobic: What's All the Controversy About?
By: Eddie Lomax | 11/01/2006 | Fitness
Which energy pathway to train, aerobic or anaerobic, is a source of much controversy. To me, the answer is simple.
Tae Kwon Do is Excellent Exercise for Young and Old
By: Nicky Pilkington | 15/01/2006 | Health
Tae Kwon Do is Korean Karate. It means The Way of the Hand and Foot (punching and kicking). There are basically four sections to the art: Toning, Sparring, Forms and Self Defense.
Introduction to Group Cycling Classes
By: Nicky Pilkington | 15/01/2006 | Health
Group indoor cycling classes are one of the best exercise activities that you can participate in. People with all levels of fitness and endurance can benefit from these workouts.
Reduce Stress with Exercise
By: Nicky Pilkington | 15/01/2006 | Health
We have heard it so many times before that there are many benefits to exercise especially when used to lower stress. If everyone knows that exercise is important then why is stress, disease, and fatigue so prevalent in today's society? The answer is simpl
Preparing to Run a Marathon
By: Nicky Pilkington | 15/01/2006 | Health
If you've ever run a marathon, or even been a spectator, you'll appreciate the motivation and commitment involved. If you're not prepared when it comes to race day you can expect many hours of suffering and struggle!
5 Proven Ways To Lose More Fat In Less Time
By: Nicky Pilkington | 15/01/2006 | Health
If you're looking to lose some unwanted body fat, this article will show you 5 simple, proven ways to shed more fat in less time.
The Two Biggest Hoaxes About Abdominal Training
By: Nicky Pilkington | 16/01/2006 | Health
If you have ever read a fitness magazine...
Important Exercise Principles
By: Martin Kallak | 28/03/2008 | Health
Below follows a description of some basic exercise principles that needs to be understood before effectively engaging in any exercise program.
The main forms of exercise dealt with here are:
Cardiovascular exercise
Strengt training
Sports-specific training
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Cancer types and rates for Sachem CSD on Long Island NY
By: T | 03-07-2008
Does anyone know the cancer rate for children in Sachem school district on Long Island NY? The types and the ages of the children would be helpful as well. Maybe some suggestions as to where to get this information.
Bout with gout
By: carl | 03-07-2008
non medical relief for swelling related to gout attack in wrist and hand area
Finger...breakout.... allgeric
By: Chrissye | 03-07-2008
My mom uses a dish detergent with bleach in it . I sometimes do the dishes. I have a breakout on my middle finger on my right hand .... could I be allergic to the bleach?
What else can olive oil do?
By: clueless | 03-07-2008
can raw olive oil be used to moisten damaged dry skin?
Lower Disk Pain
By: Michael | 03-07-2008
Has anyone used The Turtle for relieving lower disk pain and can comment on its effectiveness.
Grandson wakes up some mornings and can't walk or ...
By: rich roll | 03-07-2008
Grandson wakes up some mornings and can't walk or has trouble doing so. Can stand, but not walk. Goes away in a few hours. Has occured three times in past three weeks. Any thoughts?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Fitness Articles
Meditation of Yoga
By: prabakar | 24/07/2008
Kundalini Yoga is the original and most powerful of the twenty-two schools of yoga, all of which are beneficial. As our society becomes increasingly technological, our world becomes more intimately connected and influenced by its numerous cultures. If you can practice at the same time each day, you will find that you will improve rapidly.
Meal Planning
By: Alien | 24/07/2008
Meal planning involves learning how to choose foods and eating the appropriate amounts. The so,called diabetic diet is no different from the diet that all people ought to be eating.
Proteins and Other Nutrients
By: Alien | 24/07/2008
Proteins have four calories per gram and are the most slowly absorbed foods. Until the early 1980s, fats were considered to be the slowest-absorbing of the three food groups. Research from a university on the East Coast determined otherwise.
Scientific Kundalini Yoga
By: prabakar | 24/07/2008
Kundalini Yoga combines breathing, movement, meditation, stretching, relaxation, the science of sequence, and rhythm and sound, to work on every aspect of your body, mind, and being. When you take this system to heart, your life becomes consecrated to the process of expansion and growth.
Stress Relief the Herbal Way
By: Paul Phillips | 24/07/2008
It seems like just about everyone is leading busy, hectic lives. Now, more than ever, people are looking for ways to deal with stress. And, for many, herbal stress relief is the answer they have been looking for.
Emergency Alert Services
By: Kevin Reilly | 24/07/2008
This article is for people like me- who have elderly parents or in-laws who live alone and are not in the greatest of health. My mother-in-law wants to live on her own but we worry about her. Having the Life Station medical alert in her home helps us sleep better at night knowing if she needs help, it's only a click away.
Burn Fat Quickly
By: Richard Adams | 24/07/2008
Revealed the proven techniques that will allow you to burn fat fast.
3 Tips to Getting Rid of Belly Fat Fast
By: Michael Jans | 24/07/2008
Getting rid of belly fat and getting a strong six pack abs is not as hard as many make it. Some simple dietary changes can put you well on the track to eliminating your belly fat.
More from Gaby Munteanu
Fitness Training - Do the Exercises Correctly
By: Gaby Munteanu | 20/03/2006 | Fitness
In fitness, like in any other sport, correct performing of exercises is essential. Even if a program is well dosed, divided and individualized, as long as the exercises are not done correctly, no one can expect to achieve the results he/ she expected.
Fitness - Anaerobic Training
By: Gaby Munteanu | 17/03/2006 | Fitness
Anaerobic fitness is the force component of fitness in general, which also contains at least two other essential components: aerobic fitness (the part of cardio-vascular resistance) and joint mobility.
Fitness - Aerobic Training
By: Gaby Munteanu | 15/03/2006 | Fitness
Fitness in general includes both aerobic and anaerobic aspects. According to the priorities of the sportsman, one or the other of the two aspects will be emphasized, but the second one will not be neglected. The purpose of doing fitness exercises is, idea
Fitness and Body Building
By: Gaby Munteanu | 14/03/2006 | Fitness
There are statistics which show that, after years of training in body building, many of the persons who practiced this sport turned to fitness. The reasons of this change are different, from the most common ones, like the boredom which intervenes at a cer
5 Myths about the Fitness Exercises
By: Gaby Munteanu | 10/03/2006 | Fitness
1. Sport is for professionals. This idea applies only in the case of performance sports. The native qualities required for professional sportsmen (speed, skills, specific height, etc.) can only be developed, they can't be formed by training.
Fitness Training - The Importance of Correct Warming Up
By: Gaby Munteanu | 09/03/2006 | Fitness
All types of physical practice, in fitness or any other sport, must begin with correct warming up. This activity, together with relaxation and the main stage, are the three essential parts of the training.
The types of warming up can vary a lot in leng
|
|
Sports and Fitness 
