Anaerobic and aerobic components during arm-crank exercise in sprint and middle-distance swimmers

The purpose of this investigation was to compare anaerobic and aerobic components measured during arm exercise in sprint and middle-distance swimmers and to investigate whether the peak anaerobic power:peak aerobic power ratio (W(an),peak:Waer,peak) was related to specialization for the event and to performance. The W(an0,peak, force at zero velocity (F0), and velocity at zero-force (v0), Waer,peak, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and ventilatory threshold (Thv) were compared during arm exercise tests in sprint (group I, n = 8) and middle-distance (group II, n = 9) competitive male swimmers. Anaerobic indices were estimated by the force-velocity test, an anaerobic test using incremental braking forces; aerobic indices were measured during an incremental aerobic exercise test (30 W.min-1). The W(an),peak and Waer,peak were greater in group I [828 (SEM 70) W; 236 (SEM 12) W] than in group II [678 (SEM 28) W; 230 (SEM 5) W], but the differences were not significant. There were also no significant differences observed between the mean values of F0, v0, VO2peak, and Thv. The W(an0,peak:Waer,peak, however, was significantly higher in sprint swimmers (t = 3.08, P < 0.01). In seven of the swimmers, who had recently performed both the 100-m and 400-m front crawl, a relationship existed between their swim time and the W(an),peak:Waer,peak (100 m: r = -0.80, P < 0.05 and 400 m: r = +0.75, P < 0.05). In conclusion, during arm-crank exercise, we did not observe significant differences in anaerobic and aerobic components between sprint and middle-distance swimmers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)