University Professors and researchers Frédéric Lemaître and Fabrice Joulia are looking for volunteers the week before the AIDA world championship for a scientific research project.
The research project is looking into “Syncope” or “Black Out” where the blood pressure to the brain drops as a result of changes in heart contraction. In a paper released by Professors Lemaître and Joulia it says that most freedivers have reported an experience of at least one syncope episode during their freediving career. Additionally they have also said that they cannot remember such an experience.
During the International AIDA championships between 1998 and 2004, the rate of blackout in certain disciplines reached between 1%-6% of the 274 freedivers who were studied (Lindholm and Lundren 2006).
The Blue Research Project aims to understand the factors that could lead to syncope and to identify when some divers are prone to it.
The study will take place just before the World Championships, between the 8th and 16th of September. It will involve a short electrocardiogram at rest, and a warm up, where the freediver will perform 60% of their personal best. Blood samples will be taken before, during and after each static apnea.
The O2 saturation will be constantly controlled as well as the cardiac frequency. All data will be kept confidential.
If you wish to participate in this study you may fill out the attached form and send it to the researchers at the specified email address on the form.
