INFLUENCE OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHM ON SELECTED PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLES AND SWIMMING PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL BOYS

When the circadian rhythms of physical physiological and psychological factors determining sports performance are closely in ‘sync’ that would be the zone of peak performance for a particular individual is well documented. The purpose of the study was to find out the influence of Circadian Rhythm on selected physiological variables and swimming performance. To achieve the purpose of the study, fifteen male health students of age group 16 to 18 years, were selected as subjects and physiological variables such as body temperature, resting heart rate, anaerobic power, aerobic power and swimming performance were selected as dependent variables. Circadian rhythm was selected as another categorical variable, which was calculated from six different times of the day 02.00, 06.00, 10.00, 14.00, 18.00 and 22.00 hours. The standard tests for the selected dependent variables were administered and the collected data were statistically treated with one way analysis of variance and Scheffe’s post hoc test to find out the difference. Cosinor analysis was used to find out the existence of significant circadian rhythm. The results showed that body temperature, resting heart rate, anaerobic power, aerobic power and swimming performance showed significant difference in different times of the day and circadian rhythm was significant in body temperature and aerobic power.