Oxygen Uptake of “Booted” and “Fin Swimming” Divers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The O2 uptake of "booted" divers and "finned" swimmers was studied, employing a demand valve in the subjects counterlung. These expts. were carried out both in a tank and open water. In the tank expts. the uptake was detd. seated quietly on the bottom, standing still during minimal and maximal movement, during heavy arm work and during various degrees of leg work. The mean uptakes (13 subjects) under these conditions were 0.25, 0.27, 0.57, 1.53, 1.15, 1.06, to 1.73 l./min. normal temp. and pressure (N. T. P.), respectively. Minimum and maximum movement on a muddy bottom in tidal water caused slightly higher uptakes. The mean O2 uptake of frog men swimming under water in a swimming bath at 1.3 to 1.7 ft./sec was 2.68 l./min., and at 1.7 to 2.3 ft./sec. 3.66 l./min. N. T. P. It was shown that the booted diver is unable to reach very high levels of O2 uptake and this is thought to be due to the relatively passive role played by the legs. The O2 uptake of finned underwater swimmers is shown to be considerably higher than that of booted divers and of the order encountered in other athletic activities. The dangers resulting from this high uptake of O2 and CO2 production are emphasized. A small series of O2 uptakes of surface breast stroke swimmers is also reported.
Keywords

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: