Manipulation of Stroke Rate in Swimming: Effects on Oxygen Uptake Kinetics

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 2023-01, Vol.44 (1), p.56-63
• Main Authors: Franken, Marcos, Figueiredo, Pedro, De Assis Correia, Ricardo, Feitosa, Wellington Gomes, Lazzari, Caetano Decian, Diefenthaeler, Fernando, Castro, Flávio Souza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breath Tests; Humans; Kinetics; Lactic Acid; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Swimming; Swimming - physiology; Training & Testing
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/a-1930-5462

Abstract The study aimed to assess the effect of different front crawl stroke rates (SRs) in the oxygen uptake (̇VO 2 ) kinetics and ̇VO 2 peak, the total time to exhaustion (TTE), and blood lactate concentration ([La]) at 95% of the 400-m front crawl test (T400) mean speed (S400). Twelve endurance swimmers performed a T400 and four trials at 95% of the S400: (i) free SR, (ii) fixed SR (100% of the average free SR trial), (iii) reduced SR (90% of the average free SR trial), and (iv) increased SR (110% of the average free SR trial). ̇VO 2 was accessed continuously with breath-by-breath analysis. The results highlighted: (i) the time constant at increased SR (13.3±4.2 s) was lower than in the reduced SR condition (19.5±2.6 s); (ii) the amplitude of the primary phase of ̇VO 2 kinetics in the fixed SR (44.0±5.8 ml·kg -1 ·min -1 ) was higher than in the increased SR condition (39.5±6.4 ml·kg -1 ·min -1 ); and (iii) TTE was lower in the fixed SR (396.1±189.7 s) than the increased SR condition (743.0±340.0 s). The results indicate that controlled SR could be considered a swimming training strategy, focusing on physiological parameters overload.