Energetics of backstroke swimming in males and females.

The aims of this study were to compare the oxygen demand of back crawl in male and female competitive swimmers and to examine the effect of stroke mechanics on these costs. Twenty-two male and 16 female swimmers participated in the study. The VO2 increased with v2 to a peak of approximately 4.03 l.min-1 in males and of approximately 2.88 l.min-1 in females. Mean VO2 of the males at a given v was significantly higher than that of the female swimmers, but the slopes of the regression lines were identical. Increases of velocity in both groups were related to increases in f and a decrease in distance. Costs per stroke (ml O2.str-1) in males were significantly higher than in females at a v = 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 m.s-1. The relationship between VO2 and body mass at v = 1.1 m.s-1 was evaluated by deriving the exponent b in the allometric equation VO2 = a Mb. The exponent b was found to be 0.55. These results indicate that submaximal VO2 in back crawl swimming does not increase in proportion to body mass and may explain why VO2 (l.min-1) has been found to be higher in males than in females.

Applied physiology of squash.

Squash is a moderate- to high-intensity intermittent exercise. Players are active 50 to 70% of the playing time. 80% of the time, the ball is in play 10 seconds or less. The rest intervals fit a normal distribution with an average duration of 8 seconds. Heart rate increases rapidly in the first minutes of play and remains stable at approximately 160 beats/min for the whole match no matter what levels the players are. The energy expenditure for medium-skilled players is approximately 2850 kJ/h and over 3000 kJ/h for A grade players. The thermal and metabolic response to squash is similar to that of moderate intensity running. Hyperglycaemia, elevated free fatty acids and growth hormone levels, and low serum insulin values are the common metabolic changes. Blood lactate levels are understandably low due to the very short work to rest pattern of play. Injuries are not frequent in squash but they can occur. Serious eye injuries have been documented and as a result protective equipment is highly recommended. To reduce the possibility of sudden death on the court or after the game, older players that present some risk factors for cardiovascular disease should be warned against smoking after the game and informed of the serious implications of the development of chest pain, or undue tiredness before, during or after squash.

The aerobic demand of backstroke swimming, and its relation to body size, stroke technique, and performance.

Few studies have examined the aerobic demand of backstroke swimming, and its relation to body morphology, technique, or performance. The aims of this study were thus to: i) describe the aerobic demand of backstroke swimming in proficient swimmers at high velocities; ii) assess the effects of body size and stroke technique on submaximal and maximal O2 costs, and; iii) test for a relationship between submaximal O2 costs and maximal performance. Sixteen male competitive swimmers were tested during backstroke swimming at velocities from 1.0 to 1.4 m.s-1. Results showed that VO2 increased linearly with velocity (m.s-1) following the equation VO2 = 6.28v - 3.81 (r = 0.77, SEE/Y = 14.9%). VO2 was also related to the subjects' body mass, height, and armspan. Longer distances per stroke were associated with lower O2 costs, and better maximal performances. A significant relation was found between VO2 at 1.1 m.s-1, adjusted for body mass, and 400 m performance (r = -0.78). Submaximal VO2 was also related to reported times for 100 m and 200 m races. Multiple correlation analyses indicated that VO2 at 1.1 m.s-1 and VO2max accounted for up to 78% of the variance in maximal performances. These results suggest that the assessment of submaximal and maximal VO2 during backstroke swimming may be of value in the training and testing programs of competitive swimmers.

Applied physiology of swimming.

Scientific research in swimming over the past 10 to 15 years has been oriented toward multiple aspects that relate to applied and basic physiology, metabolism, biochemistry, and endocrinology. This review considers recent findings on: 1) specific physical characteristics of swimmers; 2) the energetics of swimming; 3) the evaluation of aerobic fitness in swimming; and 4) some metabolic and hormonal aspects related to swimmers. Firstly, the age of finalists in Olympic swimming is not much different from that of the participants from other sports. They are taller and heavier than a reference population of the same age. The height bias in swimming may be the reason for lack of success from some Asian and African countries. Experimental data point toward greater leanness, particularly in female swimmers, than was seen 10 years ago. Overall, female swimmers present a range of 14 to 19% body fat whereas males are much lower (5 to 10%). Secondly, the relationship between O2 uptake and crawl swimming velocity (at training and competitive speeds) is thought to be linear. The energy cost varies between strokes with a dichotomy between the 2 symmetrical and the 2 asymmetrical strokes. Energy expenditure in swimming is represented by the sum of the cost of translational motion (drag) and maintenance of horizontal motion (gravity). The cost of the latter decreases as speed increases. Examination of the question of size-associated effects on the cost of swimming using Huxley's allometric equation (Y = axb) shows an almost direct relationship with passive drag. Expressing energy cost in litres of O2/m/kg is proposed as a better index of technical swimming ability than the traditional expression of VO2/distance in L/km. Thirdly, maximal direct conventional techniques used to evaluate maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) in swimming include free swimming, tethered swimming, and flume swimming. Despite the individual peculiarities of each method, with similar experimental conditions similar results for VO2 max will be found. Free swimming (unimpeded) using the backward extrapolation method will, however, lead to reliable and valid results obtained in a condition that is closer to the competitive situation than with a direct test. A maximal indirect field-test has been recently made available. This test can predict VO2 max with an acceptable accuracy (r = 0.877), and provides a mean to evaluate the functional maximal aerobic power in swimming which corresponds to the maximal aerobic swimming velocity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Skeletal muscle adaptation in adolescent boys: sprint and endurance training and detraining.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 3-month sprint and endurance training programs on the vastus lateralis muscle fiber area and the activities of glycolytic (phosphofructokinase; PFK) and oxidative (succinate dehydrogenase; SDH) enzymes of adolescent boys. Enzyme activities were also determined after a subsequent 6-month detraining period. Endurance training resulted in significant increases in VO2max (58.4 to 64.3 ml . min-1 . kg-1), in ST and FTa fiber area (6.0 to 7.3 and 8.0 to 10.4 microns 2 x 10(3), respectively), and in SDH activity (6.4 to 9.1 IU). After detraining VO2max and SDH activity returned to pretraining levels. Sprint training resulted in a significant increase only in PFK activity (28.1 to 33.9 IU), which was also abolished in the detraining period. These data demonstrate that in adolescent boys skeletal muscle enzyme changes are specific to the mode of training and that they are similar in direction but different in magnitude to those found in adults.

VO2 peak during free swimming using the backward extrapolation of the O2 recovery curve.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of estimating oxygen consumption (VO2) during maximal swimming by using the backward extrapolation (BE) of the VO2 recovery curve to time zero. Two series of experiments were conducted. In the first, the validity of the BE method was ascertained by comparing the VO2 peak values obtained during free swimming (Douglas bag technique) with those estimated by the BE method during recovery after the same tests. These results were also compared with VO2 peak measured during uphill treadmill running. VO2 peak measured during maximal free swimming and estimated by the BE method during the recovery period of that test, were not significantly different. No significant difference was found between VO2 peak uphill treadmill running and free swimming. In the second series of experiments, VO2 peak was measured in each of 28 swimmers during uphill running (conventional method) and during unimpeded swimming using the BE method. The mean value was significantly higher during swimming (mean = 3.37) than during running (mean = 3.23). Seventy-five percent of the subjects had higher VO2 peak during swimming. The swimming speed during maximal swimming effort was 10% higher when the BE method was used then when the same subjects were tested by the conventional Douglas bag technique. The BE method is reliable and valid way to measure VO2 peak in maximal swimming and allows the swimmer to use his specifically trained musculature fully.

Skeletal muscle fibre size adaptation to an eight-week swimming programme.

To evaluate the effects of short-term physical training on muscle fibre size, seven males were submitted to an eight-week swimming programme. Biopsy samples from the triceps brachii muscle were obtained before and after the training period, and compared with controls. After training, free swimming maximal oxygen uptake was significantly higher in the exercise subject (3.61 to 3.76 l x min-1), whereas the type I fibre distribution in the triceps was not affected (45.5 vs 44.6%). However, a significant increase in type II fibre area was observed (23.8%) and the type II/type I fibre area ratio increased from 1.63 to 1.83 with training. Muscle succinate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase activities were not significantly affected by the training programme. No significant changes were observed in the control group. It is concluded that type II fibres are recruited preferentially during a short-term swim-training programme...

Glycogen depletion in a game-simulated hockey task.

A game-simulated hockey task has been developed to closely approximate the actions in a hockey game including forward and backward skating, stops, starts, shooting and passing. As well, the test is similar to game conditions for number of shifts, activity time per shift, activity time per play and total active time on the ice. The purpose of this study was to measure the glycogen depletion during the task and to compare this with laboratory tasks and actual game conditions. The results demonstrate that the simulated tasks resembles on ice conditions during a game for heart rate and glycogen depletion. The preferential glycogen utilization by ST fibres but great depletion in FT fibres as well suggests that the task is strenuous enough to stimulate both FT and ST motor units.