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Verifying Physiological and Biomechanical Parameters during Continuous Swimming at Speed Corresponding to Lactate
Gavriil G Arsoniadis1, Ioannis S Nikitakis1, Petros G Botonis1
1Division of Aquatic Sports, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dafne, 17237 Athens, Greece.
Sports (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 8, 2020
Summary
Continuous swimming at lactate threshold speed differs from incremental tests. Physiological and biomechanical responses vary, with higher blood lactate, heart rate, and stroke rate, but lower stroke length during continuous swimming.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Swimming Biomechanics
Background:
- Lactate threshold is a key indicator of endurance performance in swimming.
- Accurate determination of lactate threshold is crucial for effective training prescription.
- Previous research has utilized various protocols to assess swimming performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare physiological and biomechanical responses during continuous swimming at lactate threshold speed (T30) with those determined during an incremental speed test (7 × 200 m).
- To evaluate the validity of using an incremental test to set continuous swimming intensity.
- To analyze differences in blood lactate, oxygen uptake, heart rate, stroke rate, and stroke length between the two protocols.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen competitive swimmers completed a 7 × 200 m incremental front crawl test to determine lactate threshold speed (sLT).
- Physiological (blood lactate, oxygen uptake, heart rate) and biomechanical (stroke rate, stroke length) parameters were measured during the incremental test and a subsequent 30-minute continuous swim at sLT.
- Data were analyzed to compare responses between the two swimming conditions.
Main Results:
- Oxygen uptake at lactate threshold (VO2-sLT) was not significantly different from that during continuous swimming (VO2-T30).
- Blood lactate concentration (BL-T30), heart rate (HR-T30), and arm-stroke rate (SR-T30) were significantly higher during continuous swimming compared to the incremental test.
- Arm-stroke length (SL-T30) was significantly lower during continuous swimming than during the incremental test.
Conclusions:
- Continuous swimming at the speed determined by an incremental test may not elicit the same physiological and biomechanical responses.
- The findings suggest that training intensity based solely on lactate threshold from incremental tests might need adjustment for continuous swimming.
- Further research is needed to refine protocols for accurately prescribing continuous swimming intensities based on lactate threshold.
