Lower fatigue and faster recovery of ultra-short race pace swimming training sessions.

Ultra-short race-pace training (USRPT) is a high-intensity training modality used in swimming for the development of specific race-technique. However, there is little information about the fatigue associated to this modality. In a crossover design, acute responses of two volume-equated sessions (1000-m) were compared on 14 national swimmers: i) USRPT: 20×50-m; ii) RPT: 10×100-m. Both protocols followed an equivalent work-recovery ratio (1:1) based on individual 200-m race-pace. The swimming times and the arm-strokes count were monitored on each set and compared by mixed-models. Blood lactate [La-] and countermovement jump-height (CMJ) were compared within and between conditions 2 and 5 min after the protocols. The last bouts in RPT were 1.5-3% slower than the target pace, entailing an arm-strokes increase of ~0.22 for every second increase in swimming time. USRPT produced lower [La-] ([Mean ± standard deviation], 2 min: 8.2±2.4 [p = 0.021]; 5 min: 6.9±2.8 mM/L [p = 0.008]), than RPT (2 min: 10.9±2.3; 5 min: 9.9±2.4 mM/L). CMJ was lowered at min 2 after RPT (-11.09%) and USRPT (-5.89%), but returned to baseline in USRPT at min 5 of recovery (4.07%). In conclusion, lower fatigue and better recovery were achieved during USRPT compared to traditional high-volume set.

Are the 50 m Race Segments Changed From Heats to Finals at the 2021 European Swimming Championships?

This study explored in the 50 m races of the four swimming strokes the performance parameters and/or technical variables that determined the differences between swimmers who reach the finals and those who do not. A total of 322 performances retrieved from the 2021 Budapest European championships were the focus of this study. The results of the performances achieved during the finals compared to the heats showed that the best swimmers did not excel during the heats, as a significant progression of performance was observed in most of the strokes as the competition progressed. Specifically, combining men and women, the swimmers had in freestyle a mean coefficient of variation (CV) of ∼0.6%, with a mean range of performance improvement (∆%) of ∆ = ∼0.7%; in breaststroke a mean CV of ∼0.5% and ∆ = -0.2%; in backstroke a mean CV of ∼0.5% and ∆ = -0.6%, and; in butterfly a mean CV of ∼0.7% and ∆ = -0.9%. For all strokes, it was a reduction of the underwater phase with the aim of increasing its speed. However, this result was not always transferred to the final performance. In any case, most of the swimmers tried to make improvements from the start of the race up to 15 m. Furthermore, the swimmers generated an overall increase in stroke rate as the rounds progressed. However, a decrease in stroke length resulted and, this balance appeared to be of little benefit to performance.

Biophysical Impact of 5-Week Training Cessation on Sprint Swimming Performance.

PURPOSE: To assess changes in swimming performance, anthropometrics, kinematics, energetics, and strength after 5-week training cessation. METHODS: Twenty-one trained and highly trained swimmers (13 males: 17.4 [3.1] y; 50-m front crawl 463 [77] FINA points; 8 females: 16.7 [1.7] y; 50-m front crawl 535 [48] FINA points) performed a 50-m front-crawl all-out swim test, dryland and pool-based strength tests, and 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-m front-crawl all-out efforts for anaerobic critical velocity assessment before and after a 5-week training cessation. Heart rate and oxygen uptake (V˙O2) were continuously measured before and after the 50-m swim test (off-kinetics). RESULTS: Performance was impaired 1.9% (0.54 s) for males (P = .007, d = 0.91) and 2.9% (0.89 s) for females (P = .033, d = 0.93). Neither the anthropometrical changes (males: r2 = .516, P = .077; females: r2 = .096, P = .930) nor the physical activities that each participant performed during the off-season (males: r2 = .060, P = .900; females: r2 = .250, P = .734) attenuated performance impairments. Stroke rate and clean swimming speed decreased (P < .05), despite similar stroke length and stroke index (P > .05). Blood lactate concentrations remained similar (P > .05), but V˙O2 peak decreased in females (P = .04, d = 0.85). Both sexes showed higher heart rate before and after the 50-m swim test after 5 weeks (P < .05). Anaerobic metabolic power deterioration was only observed in males (P = .035, d = 0.65). Lower in-water force during tethered swimming at zero speed was observed in males (P = .033, d = 0.69). Regarding dryland strength, lower-body impairments were observed for males, while females showed upper-body impairments (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: A 5-week training cessation yielded higher heart rate in the 50-m front crawl, anaerobic pathways, and dryland strength impairments. Coaches should find alternatives to minimize detraining effects during the off-season.

Swimming with Swimsuit and Wetsuit at Typical vs. Cold-water Temperatures (26 vs. 18 ℃).

This study aimed to compare three swimming conditions in a swimming flume with water at 26 ℃ (using swimsuit) and 18 ℃ (randomly with swimsuit and wetsuit). Seventeen swimmers (32.4±14.7 years old, 175.6±0.06 cm height, and 70.4±9.8 kg body mass) performed three bouts until exhaustion at a 400-m front crawl pace (24 h intervals). ANOVA repeated measures compared the experimental conditions. Swimming at 26 ℃ with swimsuit evidenced a higher metabolic demand (total energy expenditure; (E)), comparing to 18 ℃ swimsuit (p=0.05) and with 18 ℃ wetsuit (p=0.04). The 26 ℃ swimsuit condition presented higher peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), blood lactate concentrations ([La-]peak), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), maximal heart rate (HRmax), anaerobic lactic energy (AnL), E, energy cost (C), V̇O2 amplitude (Ap), and stroke rate (SR), but lower stroke length (SL) and stroke index (SI) than 18 ℃ wetsuit. The 18 ℃ swimsuit condition (comparing to wetsuit) lead to higher V̇O2peak, [La-]peak, HRmax, E, C, Ap, and SR but lower SL and SI. Swimming at aerobic power intensity with swim and wetsuit at 18 ℃ does not induce physiologic and biomechanical disadvantages compared to 26 ℃. The results suggested that the use of wetsuit might increase performance at 18 ℃ water temperature for competitive master swimmers. Its use is thus recommended in open water swimming competitions when the water temperature is 18-20 ℃.

Protocolización de la post-activación potenciación estimulada en natación y su relación con la fuerza relativa / Protocolization of post-activation performance enhancements in swimming and its relationship with the relative strength

OBJETIVO: Este estudio experimentó un protocolo de post-activación potenciación estimulada en 16 nadadores de competición. MÉTODO: En primer lugar, se aplicaron ejercicios de acondicionamiento para extremidades superiores e inferiores y se exploraron los efectos producidos tras 5, 8, 12 y 20 minutos de descanso en un test que implicaba tres saltos verticales y tres flexiones explosivas. En una sesión posterior, se aplicaron ejercicios de acondicionamiento específico en ambas extremidades proporcionando el mismo tiempo de descanso que había inducido los mejores resultados en la evaluación exploratoria (8 min), y sus efectos se evaluaron en una prueba de natación sprint (50 m). Finalmente, también se obtuvo el índice de fuerza relativa de los participantes y se estudió su relación con el rendimiento. RESULTADOS: Las variables relacionadas con la salida de natación mejoraron. La velocidad en el despegue fue mayor debido al incremento de las fuerzas desarrolladas en el poyete. El tiempo de nado en la prueba de 50-m se mantuvo igual a la situación estándar aunque la velocidad fue mayor en los primeros metros. CONCLUSIONES: Los sujetos con mayor índice de fuerza obtuvieron mejores resultados y reaccionaron mejor a la post-activación potenciación estimulada posiblemente porque sus efectos son más efectivos en las fibras tipo II y estas, son más comunes en sujetos entrenados

OBJETIVO: Este estudo tentou um protocolo de aprimoramento de desempenho pós-ativação (PAPE) em 16 nadadores treinados. MÉTODO: Primeiro, exercícios de condicionamento máximo para membros superiores e inferiores foram aplicados e testados após 5, 8, 12 e 20 minutos de descanso através do teste de contrações voluntárias máximas (3 repetições de salto vertical e 3 repetições de flexão voadora). Em uma sessão subsequente, exercícios específicos de condicionamento foram aplicados novamente em ambos os membros e seus efeitos foram avaliados em uma corrida de natação de 50 m após proporcionar o mesmo tempo de descanso em que o melhor desempenho foi detectado (8 min). Por fim, o índice de força relativa foi obtido em todos os participantes para estudar a relação com as variáveis de desempenho na natação. RESULTADOS: Todas as variáveis relacionadas à natação iniciaram o desempenho. A velocidade durante o vôo foi maior devido ao aumento das forças produzidas contra o bloco. O tempo de natação para 50-m foi semelhante ao obtido após a condição padrão, embora as velocidades de natação fossem maiores no início da corrida. CONCLUSÕES: Os indivíduos com maior índice de força relativa obtiveram melhores resultados e reagiram melhor ao aprimoramento de desempenho pós-ativação, possivelmente por seus efeitos serem maiores nas fibras do tipo II e serem mais frequentes em indivíduos treinados

Post high intensity pull-over semi-tethered swimming potentiation in national competitive swimmers.

BACKGROUND: The swimming community has shown considerable interest in using dry-land warm-ups as a method of impacting performance. This study compared the effects of high-resistance pull-over and swimming warm-up in semi-tethered resisted swimming. METHODS: An incremental-load semi-tethered swimming test was individually administered in 20 national-competitive swimmers to determine the load maximizing swimming power. In different sessions, participants tested such a load 6 min after a swimming warm-up (SWU) or a dry-land warm-up (DLWU: 3 pull-over reps at 85% of the one-repetition maximum). Kinetic variables (velocity, force, acceleration, impulse, power rate of force development [RFD] and intra-cycle variation), were obtained with a linear encoder through trapezoidal integration regarding time. Kinematic variables (distance, time, stroke-rate and stroke-length), were obtained by video recordings. The differences between protocols were observed by paired-samples t-test (ANOVA). Pearson's coefficient explored correlations between kinetics and kinematics variables; significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: DLWU increased RFD (34.52±16.55 vs. 31.29±13.70 N/s; Δ=9.35%) and stroke-rate (64.70±9.84 vs. 61.56±7.07 Hz; Δ=5.10%) compared to SWU, but decreased velocity, force, acceleration, impulse and power. During the incremental-load test velocity and power were higher than obtained after SWU (1.21±0.14 vs. 1.17±0.12 m/s; Δ=3.06%), (51.38±14.93 vs. 49.98±15.40 W; Δ=2.72%), suggesting enhancements prompted by the test itself. Correlations between stroke-length with impulse (r=0.76) and power (r=0.75) associated kinetics with kinematics. CONCLUSIONS: Potentiation responses were present after the dry-land warm-up. However, swimmers may benefit more from submaximal prolonged conditioning activities such as resisted swimming rather than high-resistance dry-land sets to obtain performance enhancements.