Skeletal Muscle Mass and Muscular Function in Master Swimmers Is Related to Training Distance

Journal of Human Kinetics

Rosemann

et al. 2017

Performance trends in elite butterfly swimmers are well known, but less information is available regarding master butterfly swimmers. We investigated trends in participation, performance and sex differences in 9,606 female and 13,250 male butterfly race times classified into five-year master groups, from 25-29 to 90-94 years, competing in the FINA World Masters Championships between 1986 and 2014. Trends in participation were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Trends in performance changes were investigated using mixed-effects regression analyses with sex, distance and a calendar year as fixed variables. We also considered interaction effects between sex and distance. Participation increased in master swimmers older than ~30-40 years. The men-to-women ratio remained unchanged across calendar years and master groups, but was lower in 200 m compared to 50 m and 100 m. Men were faster than women from 25-29 to 85-89 years (p < 0.05), although not for 90-94 years. Sex and distance showed a significant interaction in all master groups from 25-29 to 90-94 years for 200m (p < 0.05). For 50 m and 100 m, a significant sex × distance interaction was observed from 25-29 to 75-79 years (p < 0.05), but not in the older groups. In 50 m, women reduced the sex difference in master groups 30-34 to 60-64 years (p < 0.05). In 100 m, women decreased the gap to men in master groups 35-39 to 55-59 years (p < 0.05). In 200 m, the sex difference was reduced in master groups 30-34 to 40-44 years (p < 0.05). In summary, women and men improved performance at all distances, women were not slower compared to men in the master group 90-94 years; moreover, women reduced the gap to men between ~30 and ~60 years, although not in younger or older master groups.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance Trends in Master Butterfly Swimmers Competing in the FINA World Championships

Journal of Human Kinetics

Rosemann

et al. 2017

“…Master swimmers have a lower body mass index than untrained subjects of the sage age (Walsh et al 2013). For master swimmers, training distance is an important factor for maintaining skeletal muscle mass and function in the aging process in swimmer aged 52-82 years (Abe et al 2014). …”

Section: Participation Increased In Women and Menmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance trends in master freestyle swimmers aged 25–89 years at the FINA World Championships from 1986 to 2014

König

et al. 2016

AGE

Performance trends in elite freestyle swimmers are well known, but not for master freestyle swimmers. We investigated trends in participation, performance, and sex difference in performance of 65,584 freestyle master swimmers from 25-29 to 85-89 years competing in FINA World Masters Championships between 1986 and 2014. The men-to-women ratio was calculated for each age group, and the trend across age groups was analyzed using single linear regression analysis. Trends in performance changes were investigated using a mixed-effects regression model with sex, distance, and calendar year as fixed variables. Participation increased in women and men in older age groups (i.e., 40 years and older). Women and men improved race times across years in all age groups and distances. For age groups 25-29 to 75-79 years, women were slower than men, but not for age groups 80-84 to 85-89 years. In 50, 100, and 200 m, women reduced the sex difference from 1986 to 2014 in age groups 30-34 to 75-79 years. In 400 m, women reduced the gap to men across time in age groups 40-44, 45-49, and 55-59 years. In 800 m, sex difference became reduced across time in age groups 55-59 and 70-74 years. In summary, participation increased from 1986 to 2014 in women and men in older age groups, women and men improved across time performance in all distances, and women were not slower compared to men in age groups 80-84 to 85-89 years. We expect a continuous trend in increasing participation and improved performance in master freestyle swimmers.

“…Life-long exercise is associated with a favorable body composition (Hayes et al 2013) and a higher level of physical activity is associated with a higher skeletal muscle mass (Raguso et al 2006). For older master swimmer aged 52-82 years, it has been shown that training distance was an important factor for maintaining muscle mass and function in the aging process (Abe, Kojima, & Stager, 2014). A study investigating French master swimmers showed positive health outcomes in terms of weight management, respiratory function, and vitality due to their race preparation (Potdevin, Vanlerberghe, Zunquin, Pezé, & Theunynck, 2015).…”

Section: Participation Increased In Women and Men In All Age Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance trends in 3000 m open-water age group swimmers from 25 to 89 years competing in the FINA World Championships from 1992 to 2014

Research in Sports Medicine

Rosemann

et al. 2016

Performance trends in 3000 m open-water age group swimmers from 25 to 89 years competing in the FINA World Championships from 1992 to 2014Knechtle, Beat; Nikolaidis, Pantelis T; Rosemann, Thomas; Rüst, Christoph A Abstract: We investigated trends in participation, performance and sex difference in performance in 3000 m freestyle in age groups swimmers (25-29 to 85-89 years) competing in the Fédération Internationale de Natation World Masters Championships between 1992 and 2014. During this period, participation increased in women and men. Women and men improved race times across years in all age groups. Women were slower in age groups 25-29 to 70-74 years. In age groups 75-79 and 85-89 years, however, race times were similar for both women and men. Sex difference in performance remained unchanged across years. In summary, performance improved across years in all age groups, men were faster than women up to the age group 70-74 years and women were not able to reduce the sex difference in performance to men across years. For athletes and coaches, an increase in participation and a continuous improvement in performance can be expected in these age group athletes.