Relationship Between Swimming Velocity and Lactic Concentration During Continuous and Intermittent Training Exercises

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between lactic acid concentration in capillary blood and swimming velocity during 11 typical endurance exercises (continuous swimming for 30 and 60 min, interval swimming with distances between 50 and 400 m, and with rest periods of 10 and 30 s) and during the "two-speed test" recently described by Mader. It was expected that a better understanding of these relationships could provide evidence how to adjust training intensities from results obtained during the two-speed test. Fifty-nine male swimmers of the German national level participated in this study. After a 30-min maximal swimming test, a mean lactic acid concentration of 4.01 +/- 0.75 mmol/l was found. The corresponding mean velocity was similar to the speed (V4) calculated for the 4 mmol/l level on the basis of the results obtained during the two-speed test (2 X 400). During 30 min continuous swimming at 95% to 105% of the velocity V4, there was a significant correlation (r = 0.82, P less than 0.001) between the swimming speed and the lactic acid concentration. In the 30-min maximal test, the velocity V4 correlated significantly with both the lactic acid concentration (r = -0.58, P less than 0.005) and the swimming speed (r = 0.97, P less than 0.001). During the interval exercises with rest periods of 10 s, the swimming velocities corresponding to the same lactic acid level as during continuous swimming, increased for the 50, 100, 200, and 400 m by 11.23%, 4.21%, 2.95%, and 2.02% of V4, respectively. With rest periods of 30 s, the swimming velocity for the 100, 200, and 400 m increased by 7.34%, 4.22%, and 3.01% of V4, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Validade do teste de 30 minutos (T-30) na determinação da capacidade aeróbia, parâmetros de braçada e performance aeróbia de nadadores treinados

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tion of the aerobic training intensity (5)(6) and performance prediction of long distance events (2) . However, the determination of the anaerobic threshold using the blood lactate concentration needs specific equipment and has a financial acquisition and operational cost, which is not possible for most swimming teams in Brazil.

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“…Moreover, it consists of an invasive test which requires care with hygiene and safety (2) , limiting thus, its use in most clubs and fitness centers. Therefore, many researchers try to make less costly and of easy application assessment protocols available, which also precisely and reliably evaluate and monitor training (1)(2)(6)(7) .Olbrecht et al (6) have developed the T-30 test, which consists in moving the longest distance in 30 minutes at regular rhythm from beginning to end of the test. The mean velocity of the T-30 test (VT-30) has been highly correlated with the anaerobic velocity threshold (6,(8)(9)(10)(11) and with swimming performance (12) , which is non-invasive and of easy application.…”

“…Therefore, many researchers try to make less costly and of easy application assessment protocols available, which also precisely and reliably evaluate and monitor training (1)(2)(6)(7) .…”

“…Moreover, it consists of an invasive test which requires care with hygiene and safety (2) , limiting thus, its use in most clubs and fitness centers. Therefore, many researchers try to make less costly and of easy application assessment protocols available, which also precisely and reliably evaluate and monitor training (1)(2)(6)(7) .…”

Mechanical Misconceptions: Have we lost the "mechanics" in "sports biomechanics"?

“…2) and velocity (time rate of change of displacement), researchers have and continue to conflate the two measures [40,41,42]. For instance, in both swimming and running studies, some authors have used the term 'velocity' instead of 'speed' to describe the rate at which someone moves (e.g., [43,44,45,46]). In doing so, the changes in direction that are inherent in each sport are ignored, and it is assumed that displacement is the same as distance traveled [7].…”