Cardiorespiratory system functionality in students involved in therapeutic swimming

Objective of the study was to assess the state of the functional reserves of the cardiorespiratory system of students involved in therapeutic swimming. Methods and structure of the study. The study was carried out in vivo at the premises of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and public swimming pool "Harmony", SBI "Physical Culture and Sports Center of the South-West Administrative District of Moscow", Moscomsport. Sampled for the study were the 1st-2nd year-old male students without health deviations, who were divided into two groups: 1st — Control Group — representatives of the body conditioning group (n=28); 2nd — Experimental Group — students engaged in competitive therapeutic swimming (n=17). The cardiorespiratory system performance rates were determined based on the following indicators: chest excursion, vital capacity, oxygen concentration in the capillary blood (in %, using a pulse oximeter), heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure. Results of the study. The pulse oximetry method revealed that at the beginning of the academic year, oxygen concentration in the capillary blood in both groups did not exceed 96-97%. At the end of the academic year, the average oxygen concentration in the Control Group students remained at the level of 96.32±0.61%, while in the Experimental Group students this indicator increased to 98.47±0.52% (p˂0.01), which testified to the improvement in peripheral blood circulation in the students engaged in competitive and therapeutic swimming. Conclusion. As seen from the findings of the study, the following external respiration rates increased objectively: vital capacity, systolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure, as well as oxygen concentration in capillary blood in the students involved in competitive therapeutic swimming, which indicates increased power reserves of the cardiorespiratory system. © 2020, Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kul'tury i sporta. All rights reserved.