Examining the accumulated oxygen deficit method in front crawl swimming

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Swimming Performance Analysis

Background:

• The Accumulated Oxygen Deficit (AOD) method is used to assess anaerobic capacity in swimmers.
• Understanding the precision of AOD is crucial for accurate physiological assessments in front crawl swimming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the robustness of the oxygen uptake/swimming velocity regression line.
• To quantify the precision of the Accumulated Oxygen Deficit (AOD) method in front crawl swimming.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-nine male swimmers completed graded and all-out front crawl swimming tests.
• Expired gases were collected breath-by-breath using a K4b2 Gas Analyser.
• All-out tests were conducted over 100m, 200m, or 400m distances.

Main Results:

• Oxygen uptake/swimming velocity regression lines exhibited errors of 4-5 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1).
• Linear extrapolation of energy cost had a standard error of prediction of 3-4 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1).
• Data variability was substantial, with 95% confidence intervals exceeding 13 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1).

Conclusions:

• The AOD method's imprecision varied across distances (3-13 ml x kg(-1)).
• Relative AOD imprecision was considered high, especially for the 400m distance.
• The robustness of the AOD method in front crawl swimming requires further investigation.