How To Swim For Lung Expansion For Sports

There is generally little difference in the total lung capacity between regular exercisers and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. According to Jeremy Barnes, an associate professor at Southeast Missouri State University in an article for "Scientific American," cardiac output has more to do with whether a person feels winded during activity. But a study in the "International Journal of Current Scientific Research" in 2011 shows chest expansion increases with swimming and allows greater peak expiratory flow rate, suggesting more efficient oxygen consumption, a benefit to athletes.

Step 1

Talk to your doctor about your condition to make sure you are healthy enough to start a new aerobic exercise program.

Step 2

Swim laps or perform water aerobics where your chest is submerged. Freestyle, breast and butterfly strokes all keep your chest under water, where the water pressure forces your chest to expand through water pressure; this resistance builds endurance for stronger, deeper breaths.

Step 3

Swim in non-chlorinated water or pools with exceptional ventilation. According to a paper published in the on-line journal of the National Sports Medicine Institute of the UK in 2003, chlorinated pools suggest an increase in the onset of asthmatic symptoms, particularly for those who suffer from exercise-induced asthma. Swimmers may be affected by inhaling the chemicals rising from the water.

Step 4

Incorporate swimming into overall training programs, replacing other aerobic conditioning such as running or cycling where appropriate.

Tips and Warnings

Those who have damaged lungs from asthma, pneumonia or other diseases may find improved lung expansion capabilities through a regular swimming program.