Critical Evaluation of Oxygen-Uptake Assessment in Swimming

Abstract

Dette er siste tekst-versjon av artikkelen, og den kan inneholde små forskjeller fra forlagets pdf-versjon. Forlagets pdf-versjon finner du på www.humankinetics.com: http://dx.doi.org/10. 1123 /IJSPP.2013 This is the final text version of the article, and it may contain minor differences from the journal's pdf version. AbstractSwimming has become one important area of sport science research since the 1970s, with the bioenergetical factors assuming a fundamental performanceinfluencing role. The purpose of this study is to conduct a critical evaluation of the literature concerning the oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) assessment in swimming, by describing the equipment and methods used and emphasizing the recent works conducted in ecological conditions. Particularly in swimming, due to the inherent technical constraints imposed by swimming in a water environment, assessment of VO 2max was accomplished only in the 1960s. Later, the development of automated portable measurement devices allowed VO 2max to be assessed more effortless, even in ecological swimming conditions, but few studies have been conducted in swimming pool conditions with portable breathby-breath telemetric systems. An inverse relationship exists between the velocity corresponding to VO 2max and the time a swimmer can sustain it at this velocity. The energy cost of swimming varies according to its association with velocity variability. As, in the end, the supply of oxygen (which limitation may be due to central -O 2 delivery and transportation to the working muscles -or peripheral factors -O 2 diffusion and utilization in the muscles) is one of the critical factors that determine swimming performance, VO 2 kinetics and its maximal values are critical in understanding swimmers' behaviour in competition and for develop efficient training programs.

A New Model for Estimating Peak Oxygen Uptake Based on Postexercise Measurements in Swimming

“…Our results confirm that the HR/VO2 modelling technique, used over a maximal 200-m or 400-m swim, is a valid and accurate procedure for assessing cardiorespiratory and metabolic fitness in competitive swimmers. [2,22,36,43]. However, the use of such equipment changes the swimmer's technique and hydrodynamics, resulting in lower swimming speeds [3,21,24].…”

“…To measure in o # swimming different adaptations of the respiratory valves previously designed by Hans Rudolph were implemented. However, the use of this equipment often increased the power required to swim at the same speed due to increasing hydrodynamic drag (Sousa et al 2014a), although recent studies have challenged this view (Barbosa et al 2010a). However, the fact that swimming speed for a given intensity is lower is undisputed Barbosa et al 2010a).…”

“…Incremental tests have been mostly used to measure o #,'-in swimmers (see (Sousa et al 2014a) for a review). Instead, few studies have assessed directly measured o #%&'( in elite swimmers in pool conditions (and not in treadmill running, ergometer cycling or arm cranking, or swimming flume) within the range of race speed and time.…”

“…In swimming, Rodríguez et al were the first to measure bxb gas exchange, making it possible to characterize o # on-kinetics during 100-and 400-m all-out swims (Rodríguez et al 2003a) (figure 6). Since then, this topic has attracted a lot of attention among swimming scientists (see (Sousa et al 2014a) for a review). o # on-kinetics parameters, such as the time constant τ p or the time delay (TD p ) of the o # on-kinetics fast or principal component, have been shown also to be related with swimming performance, and o #%&'( amplitude and principal component time delay combined was found to explain 46% of the variance in 100-m performance , although other studies failed to show this relationship (Rodríguez et al 2003a).…”

“…Therefore, ܸ ሶ o ଶ ୫ୟ୶ is considered to be an important performance factor as an expression of maximal aerobic power. Traditionally, incremental tests have been mostly used to test ܸ ሶ o ଶ୫ୟ୶ in swimmers (see [43] for a review). Few studies have assessed the measured ܸ ሶ o ଶ୫ୟ୶ in elite swimmers in pool conditions within the range of race speeds and times.…”