Effect of self-paced active recovery and passive recovery on blood lactate removal following a 200 m freestyle swimming trial

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of self-paced active recovery (AR) and passive recovery (PR) on blood lactate removal following a 200 m freestyle swimming trial.Patients and methodsFourteen young swimmers (with a training frequency of 6–8 sessions per week) performed two maximal 200 m freestyle trials followed by 15 minutes of different recovery methods, on separate days. Recovery was performed with 15 minutes of passive rest or 5 minutes of passive rest and 10 minutes of self-paced AR. Performance variables (trial velocity and time), recovery variables (distance covered and AR velocity), and physiological variables (blood lactate production, blood lactate removal, and removal velocity) were assessed and compared.ResultsThere was no difference between trial times in both conditions (PR: 125.86±7.92 s; AR: 125.71±8.21 s; p=0.752). AR velocity was 69.10±3.02% of 200 m freestyle trial velocity in AR. Blood lactate production was not different between conditions (PR: 8.82±2.47 mmol L−1; AR: 7.85±2.05 mmol L−1; p=0.069). However, blood lactate removal was higher in AR (PR: 1.76±1.70 mmol L−1; AR: 4.30±1.74 mmol L−1; p<0.001). The velocity of blood lactate removal was significantly higher in AR (PR: 0.18±0.17 mmol L−1 min−1; AR: 0.43±0.17 mmol L−1 min−1; p<0.001).ConclusionSelf-paced AR shows a higher velocity of blood lactate removal than PR. These data suggest that athletes may be able to choose the best recovery intensity themselves.

Performance during a strenuous swimming session is associated with high blood lactate: pyruvate ratio and hypoglycemia in fasted rats

“…During an intense aerobic exercise session, lactatemia increases abruptly ( 17 , 18 ), resulting in elevation of the lactate/pyruvate ratio (indicative of the redox state - NADH:NAD + ratio), as a consequence of the reduction of pyruvate to lactate through lactate dehydrogenase ( 19 ). In this condition, the brain could receive a considerable lactate supply.…”

Do We Need a Cool-Down After Exercise? A Narrative Review of the Psychophysiological Effects and the Effects on Performance, Injuries and the Long-Term Adaptive Response

“…As a result, the rate at which the lactate concentration is reduced in blood—and to a lesser extent, muscle tissue—has frequently been used as an objective indicator of recovery from exercise. A large body of research has shown that a variety of low- to moderate-intensity active cool-down protocols are more effective than a passive cool-down for removing lactate from blood [ 52 – 69 ] and muscle tissue [ 58 , 64 ]. However, there are some conflicting findings, with some studies reporting no significant difference—and sometimes even a slower removal of lactate in blood [ 44 , 70 ] or muscle [ 66 , 68 ]—as a result of an active cool-down.…”

The Physical Fitness Gap between Strikers and Defenders in Football Extracurricular Programs

“…If more players have a bad physical condition during the match, it will decrease the team achievement as a whole (Abdulullah, 1981). Therefore, football player should also have a fast recovery process in which active recovery is one of the most effective recovery methods for increasing the speed of blood flow through the working muscle system (Mota, Elias, Oliveira-silva, Sales, & Sotero, 2017). Besides, active and combined recovery can reduce the level of fatigue in football athletes (Kurniawan, R., & Elfarabi, A, 2018).…”