Training methods and analysis of races of a top level Paralympic swimming athlete.

Training methods for Paralympic swimmers must take into account different pathologies, competitions classes, athlete's individual circumstances and peculiar physical adaptation mechanisms, hence general guidelines cannot be found in literature. In this study we present a training program, implemented for the physical preparation of a top level Paralympic swimmer. The athlete under study, affected by infantile cerebral palsy within a clinical picture of a spastic tetraparesis, by the end of 2016 was holder of Italian, European, world and Paralympic titles in the 400-m freestyle competition, S6 class. The training macrocycle was structured in a 3-fold periodization (three mesocycles), in view of the preparation to three international competitions. The 4-month training mesocycles prior to each competition differed substantially in terms of mileage load, intensity and recovery times. The first mesocycle was characterized by a sizeable low-intensity mileage load, the second one was shifted to lower mileage load, carried out at middle-to-high intensity levels, the third one entailed increased effort intensity, counterbalanced by lower mileage load. In all cases, recovery times were balanced to obtain optimized performance through physical adaptation to training stimuli, keeping into account the physiopatological response. Tapering phases were adjusted to maximize performance at competition. As an assessment of the effectiveness of the training method, correspondence between chronometric and technical parameters in the three competitions and the respective mesocycle training programs was found. The results of the present study may support the development of training guidelines for athletes affected by upper motor neuron lesions.

Physical function characteristics of swimmers in pre-competition training / Características da função física dos nadadores em treinamento pré-competição / Características de la función física de los nadadores en el entrenamiento previo a la competición

ABSTRACT Introduction: Swimming is a competitive athletic activity whose fundamental objective is to produce high-performance athletes capable of standing out worldwide. Aerobic balance directly affects the athletic performance of these professionals. Objective: Investigate the changes in the physical composition and functional characteristics of swimmers before the competition. The results can play an important guiding role in the training plan of the Chinese athletics team in the competition. Methods: To explore the relationship between swimmers of different ages, the athletes were trained, and their physiological and chemical changes were monitored before the competition. A statistical, mathematical method was used to analyze the data. Results: After exercise, the swimmers' hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hematocrit, creatine kinase, blood urea, and other indices had changed. The difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the swimmers' body function was stable before the competition with better exercise load capacity. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A natação é uma atividade atlética competitiva cujo objetivo fundamental é produzir atletas de alto rendimento capazes de destacarem-se mundialmente. O equilíbrio aeróbico afeta diretamente o desempenho atlético desses profissionais. Objetivo: Investigar as mudanças na composição física e nas características funcionais dos nadadores antes da competição. Os resultados podem desempenhar um importante papel de orientação no plano de treinamento da equipe de atletismo chinesa na competição. Métodos: Para explorar a relação entre nadadores de diferentes idades, os atletas foram treinados e suas alterações fisiológicas e químicas foram monitoradas antes da competição. Utilizou-se método matemático estatístico para analisar os dados. Resultados: Após exercício físico, a hemoglobina dos nadadores, contagem de glóbulos vermelhos, hematócrito, creatinaquinase, ureia no sangue e outros índices tiveram alterações. A diferença entre os dois grupos foi significativa (P<0,05). Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram que antes da competição, a função corporal dos nadadores foi estável com melhor capacidade de carga de exercício. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La natación es una actividad atlética competitiva cuyo objetivo fundamental es producir atletas de alto rendimiento capaces de destacarse a nivel mundial. El equilibrio aeróbico afecta directamente al rendimiento deportivo de estos profesionales. Objetivo: Investigar los cambios en la composición física y las características funcionales de los nadadores antes de la competición. Los resultados pueden desempeñar un importante papel de guía en el plan de entrenamiento del equipo de atletismo chino en la competición. Métodos: Para explorar la relación entre nadadores de diferentes edades, se entrenó a los atletas y se controlaron sus cambios fisiológicos y químicos antes de la competición. Para analizar los datos se utilizó el método matemático estadístico. Resultados: Tras el ejercicio, la hemoglobina, el recuento de glóbulos rojos, el hematocrito, la creatina quinasa, la urea en sangre y otros índices de los nadadores presentaron cambios. La diferencia entre los dos grupos fue significativa (P<0,05). Conclusión: Los resultados mostraron que antes de la competición, la función corporal de los nadadores era estable y con mejor capacidad de carga de ejercicio. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.