Static "passive exhale" PB's

[Waterenthusiast]

Hi everyone,
I would like to know your PB's for passive exhale static (not forcefull exhale) . A comparison with full lung static PB's done in nearly same conditions (mainly wet/dry indication) would also be interesting

So here are my PB's

Dry
empty: 3'20"
full: 4'37"

Wet
empty: don't know yet
full: 5'18"

Cheers,
Christophe

[naiad]

My PB's

Dry
empty: at least 3'15" with blackout
full: 5'45"

Wet
empty: don't know yet
full: 4'45"

(I know a blackout doesn't count as a PB, but I don't do a lot of passive exhale training, and haven't done a max since then)

Lucia

[SanderP]

I don't quite get what's passive exhale static - how long you can exhale?

Oh, and also: should pool statics be actually better than dry statics? As I've read, the mammalian diving reflex occurs when your face is underwater, and the reflex should save oxygen.

[Waterenthusiast]

Hi Mr_Miyagi,
with "passive exhale" i meant a breathhold where you empty your lungs without forcefully exhaling. Basically the idea is to exhale to the point where your diaphragma isn't stretched or contracted. Also i thougt of keeping apart dry and wet statics ( for a really "scientific" comparison much more factors should be considered ) mainly because of the diving reflex, as Oxygen conserving mechanism have an increased role in "empty" lungs diving (I believe so, but I have no proof of it ). Oh, and by PB I meant personal best

Hope i could help you out,Cheers
Christophe

[jome]

Don't remember exact numbers, but I can routinely hit 4:00-4:30. I think in dry I once did 5 min.

It would be nice to know what my passive volume is...And what it used to be.

[Waterenthusiast]

Wow jome, 5min empty lungs, thats really amazing (at least to me ). What I also find strange/interesting is that i can handle contractions much better on exhale that on inhale. In addition to that i also have a much stronger and more uncomfortable feeling of heat on full lung dives. Maybe this is related to the high levels of C02. I like the idea that based on these kind of breathholds we could make a statement about the Oxygen reserves, or conserving Mechanism our body has. Are there any scientific researches in this direction?

Cheers,
Christophe (currently enjoying the spring sunshine)

[jome]

Yeah, but I think my "FRC" is actually the same or more than inhale for alot of people With all the packing etc...

I also notice that contractions on FRC are much easier to deal with. For example in warmup I might do a 4 min FRC and expect then 5 min inhale to feel like a cakewalk...But in fact, contractions may be even worse!

I'm not an expert, but it would make sense that since to total air pressure is lower in the lungs on empty lungs, the ppco2 would also be lower. I don't know if that makes sense or not...Anyway, the exhale would have to be more than passive to get to lower pressures...Maybe it is simply more relaxing and the diaphragm has more room to contract...

[naiad]

Originally Posted by jome

I also notice that contractions on FRC are much easier to deal with. For example in warmup I might do a 4 min FRC and expect then 5 min inhale to feel like a cakewalk...But in fact, contractions may be even worse!

Same with me. Full inhale is difficult, and forced exhale is almost unbearable, but passive exhale is somehow different.

I think that's why I blacked out - the urge to breathe never came at all. I did the same preparation that I would for a normal dry static, and it remained effortless up to the point of blackout.

That's why I'm not too happy about trying it in the pool. Maybe I'll try again with higher CO2 to start with.

[jome]

Yeah, a rule of thumb is: "the emptier your lungs, the less hyperventilation is safe". Ie you just cannot trust the breathing relfex anymore. I'm not saying you should hyperventilate tons with full inhale, but that you should be extra careful not to with FRC.

With forced exhale I think the feeling of being squeezed and having negative pressure (uncomfortable to begin with, but hugely amplified by contractions) in the lungs causes kind of panicy feelings if you're not used to it. Kind of like the very end of a normal static, when you push really close to the limit. It would make sense that the body (and mind) would react this way, when feelings of negative pressure are sensed from the airways...This would in a normal situation indicate that you are in a very life threathning situation and must quickly "fight or flight". But just like with most such reflexes, one can be trained to withstand it and even relax under such feelings. That's what makes freediving so great I find that if you do a couple of them, it gets easier...Just do short ones first, but with really empty lungs. If you then do one with just moderate forcing, it doesn't feel so bad anymore...And FRC is like heaven