What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: National-level competitive swimmer (n=1). Intervention: Breath-hold training (BHT). Primary outcome: Physiological and neuroendocrine adaptations (blood lactate, heart rate, salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase).

What does this research mean for the field?

An eight-week breath-hold training program improves metabolic efficiency, cardiovascular responses, and stress regulation mechanisms in a national-level competitive swimmer. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to explore the physiological and neuroendocrine adaptations resulting from an eight-week breath-hold training (BHT) program in a competitive swimmer.

May 30, 2026Journal of Functional Morphology and KinesiologyOpen Access

An eight-week breath-hold training program in a national-level swimmer reduced blood lactate and heart rate at all workloads and increased power at 4 mmol·L−1 lactate by 20 W.

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Why the study?

Does an eight-week breath-hold training program improve metabolic, cardiovascular, and stress biomarker adaptations in a national-level swimmer?

Population

n=1, national-level 23-year-old female freestyle sprinter (50 m best time = 26.59 s; 100 m = 60.40 s)

Comparison

Eight-week breath-hold training program… vs Pre-intervention baseline

Design

Case_report

Follow-up

8 weeks

Key result

An eight-week breath-hold training program in a national-level swimmer reduced blood lactate and heart rate at all workloads and increased power at 4 mmol·L−1 lactate by 20 W.

Authors

GDGabriella D’Orsi PVParide Vasco RMRaffaella R. R. Marzovillo

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

May warrant caution before adopting BHT in swimmers; leaves open efficacy beyond this single case.

Key Points

This study aims to explore the physiological and neuroendocrine adaptations resulting from an eight-week breath-hold training (BHT) program in a competitive swimmer.
Single-case study design involving a 23-year-old female swimmer
Conducted incremental Mader cycling tests pre- and post-BHT to measure blood lactate, heart rate, and stress biomarkers
Three weekly BHT sessions integrated into regular training over eight weeks
Post-intervention, reduced blood lactate and heart rate were observed at all workloads
20 W increase in power at 4 mmol·L−1 blood lactate
Significant reductions in salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase responses, with large effect sizes noted.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does an eight-week breath-hold training program improve metabolic, cardiovascular, and stress biomarker adaptations in a national-level swimmer?

Population

n=1, national-level 23-year-old female freestyle sprinter (50 m best time = 26.59 s; 100 m = 60.40 s)

Intervention

Eight-week breath-hold training (BHT) program, consisting of three weekly sessions integrated into regular training

Comparator

Pre-intervention baseline (pre- and post-intervention assessment design)

Outcome

Physiological and neuroendocrine adaptations including blood lactate, heart rate, salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase, blood chemistry, and pulmonary function (DLCO) during an incremental Mader cycling testsurrogate

An eight-week breath-hold training program improved metabolic efficiency, cardiovascular response, and stress regulation in a national-level swimmer.

Cite This Study

D’Orsi et al. (2026) conducted a case report in National-level competitive swimmer (n=1). Breath-hold training (BHT) was evaluated on Physiological and neuroendocrine adaptations (blood lactate, heart rate, salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase). An eight-week breath-hold training program in a national-level swimmer reduced blood lactate and heart rate at all workloads and increased power at 4 mmol·L−1 lactate by 20 W.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1a7f990307b78509431de0 https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020213

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May 30, 2026Journal of Functional Morphology and KinesiologyOpen Access

An eight-week breath-hold training program in a national-level swimmer reduced blood lactate and heart rate at all workloads and increased power at 4 mmol·L−1 lactate by 20 W.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

Does an eight-week breath-hold training program improve metabolic, cardiovascular, and stress biomarker adaptations in a national-level swimmer?

Population

n=1, national-level 23-year-old female freestyle sprinter (50 m best time = 26.59 s; 100 m = 60.40 s)

Comparison

Eight-week breath-hold training program… vs Pre-intervention baseline

Design

Case_report

Follow-up

8 weeks

Key result

An eight-week breath-hold training program in a national-level swimmer reduced blood lactate and heart rate at all workloads and increased power at 4 mmol·L−1 lactate by 20 W.

Authors

GDGabriella D’Orsi PVParide Vasco RMRaffaella R. R. Marzovillo

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

May warrant caution before adopting BHT in swimmers; leaves open efficacy beyond this single case.

Key Points

This study aims to explore the physiological and neuroendocrine adaptations resulting from an eight-week breath-hold training (BHT) program in a competitive swimmer.
Single-case study design involving a 23-year-old female swimmer
Conducted incremental Mader cycling tests pre- and post-BHT to measure blood lactate, heart rate, and stress biomarkers
Three weekly BHT sessions integrated into regular training over eight weeks
Post-intervention, reduced blood lactate and heart rate were observed at all workloads
20 W increase in power at 4 mmol·L−1 blood lactate
Significant reductions in salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase responses, with large effect sizes noted.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does an eight-week breath-hold training program improve metabolic, cardiovascular, and stress biomarker adaptations in a national-level swimmer?

Population

n=1, national-level 23-year-old female freestyle sprinter (50 m best time = 26.59 s; 100 m = 60.40 s)

Intervention

Eight-week breath-hold training (BHT) program, consisting of three weekly sessions integrated into regular training

Comparator

Pre-intervention baseline (pre- and post-intervention assessment design)

Outcome

An eight-week breath-hold training program improved metabolic efficiency, cardiovascular response, and stress regulation in a national-level swimmer.

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1a7f990307b78509431de0 https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020213

Also Consider

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