This prospective observational cohort study aimed to investigate the effects of swimming style on pulmonary function and flexibility in young female swimmers. A total of 24 beginner swimmers (12 synchronized swimmers and 12 freestyle swimmers; aged 6-9 years) from swimming clubs in Istanbul, Turkey, were evaluated between January and April 2019. Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry, measuring Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1). Flexibility was assessed by the Sit and Reach test. Assessments were performed at baseline and after a 3-month training period. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of changes in FVC, FEV1, or flexibility improvement (p \> 0.05). However, both groups showed significant within-group improvements in flexibility over time. Longer-term studies with larger sample sizes may yield more conclusive results.
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Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) - measured by spirometry at baseline and after 3 months.
Timeframe: (Time Frame: 3 months