BREATHING FREQUENCY ALONG THE 400 M FREE STYLE: ASSOCIATION WITH PRATICE

• Published in: Motricidade 2008-01, Vol.4 (1), p.57-66
• Main Authors: Meira, O, Reis, V M, Silva, A J, Carneiro, AL, Reis, A M, Aidar, F
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• ISSN: 1646-107X

The aims of the present study were: i) to assess ventilator and metabolic variables during a 400m crawl event; ii) to assess the relative contribution of aerobic and anaerobic energy during the event; iii) to investigate the associations between the performance and ventilator and metabolic variables. The sample comprised 8 male Portuguese swimmers with a mean age of 17.7 plus or minus 2.3 years, regularly involved in competitive swimming. Each subject performed a submaximal and a supramaximal swimming tests with a 48h recovery between them. The tests were conducted in an indoor 25m swimming pool. During both tests gas analysis was performed and V0 sub(2) was recorded in 20 s intervals. The submaximal test comprised 5 bouts of 400m with individual recovery between them. Initial speed was 3 to 4m.s super(-1) ans speed increases were 0.5m.s super(-1). Swimming speed was kept constant with a light pacer placed in the bottom of the pool. Blood samples were collected after each bout. The supramaximal test was an all-out 400m crawl swimming. Blood samples were collected every 2 min after the test until blood lactate levelled-off. NO significant association was found between the assessed variables and the performance. However, we found a significant association of the performance with anthopometric measures, namely total body fat (r=0.78; p less than or equal to 0.05). We also found that to swimming speeds up to approximately 1.3 m.s super(-1), the aerobic energy sources provided the major fraction of energy release. Moreover, the swimmers that presented the largest accumulated oxygen deficit presented the also the larger mean values of the swimming speed associated with the lactic threshold.Original Abstract: Os objectives do presente estudo foram os seguintes: i) Descrever variaveis ventilatorias e metabolicas na prova de 400 metros crol; ii) Determinar a contribuicao relativa do metabolismo aerobio e anaerobio no decorrer da prova; iii) Determinar a relacao entre a prestacao em 400m crol e as variaveis ventilatorias e metabolicas. A amostra foi constituida por 8 nadadores, do sexo masculino, media=17.7 plus or minus 2.3 anos, Portugueses de nivel competitivo nacional e com uma pratica regular de natacao. Cada elemento realizou as provas de esforco aleatoriamente (uma submaxima e a outra supramaxima com um intervalo de tempo, entre 48 horas) em uma piscina coberta, com 25m de comprimento e 10m de largura e, temperatura ambiente entre os 26-29 graus centigrados.