Differences in the energy cost between children and adults during front crawl swimming

Abstract

There is little information available about the swimming economy of children. The aim of this study was to examine any possible differences in swimming economy in children and adults, swimming front crawl submaximally. Swimming economy was compared in adults [ n=13, aged 21.4 (3.7) years] and children [n=10, aged 11.8 (0.8) years] tested at four submaximal 6-min workloads. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured with Douglas bags in a 25-m pool and pacer lights were used to control the velocities. Swimming economy was scaled to body size using mass (BM), body surface area (BSA) and body length (BL). Children had lower VO2 (litres per minute) at a given velocity than the adults, with 1.86 (0.28) and 2.39 (0.20) l min(-1) respectively (at 1.00 m s(-1)). When scaling for size, children had higher VO2 measured in litres per square metre per minute and millilitres per kilogram per minute (divided by BSA and BM) than adults. The VO2 divided by BL was found not to differ between the two groups. The O2 cost of swimming 1 m at a velocity of 1.00 m s(-1) was lower in the children [31.0 (4.6) ml m(-1)] than in the adults [39.9 (3.3) ml m(-1) P<0.01], probably due to a lower total drag in the children. The results also showed that for children a relationship between swimming velocity cubed and VO2 exists as shown earlier for adults. It is concluded that, when scaling for BSA and BM, children are less economical than adults, when scaling for BL, children are equally economical, and when considering energy cost per metre and absolute VO2, children are more economical than the adults.

Human Physiology in an Aquatic Environment

“…A few studies have investigated the determinants of C in children and adolescents. These studies indicate that, at similar velocities, C is lower (10-50%) in children than in adults (195,312,320,437), the more so the younger the subjects (437). Master swimmers are characterized by a higher C compared to younger swimmers and, at comparable speeds, C increases as a function of age (435); the decrease in maximal metabolic power (E ′ max ) that occurs with age forces these swimmers to reduce their speed; this, in turn, is related to an unfavorable alignment of the body (and thus with an increase in W d ).…”

The Association between Anthropometric Variables, Functional Movement Screen Scores and 100 m Freestyle Swimming Performance in Youth Swimmers

“…Although anthropometric predictors of swim performance have been examined in prior literature [4][5][6][7][8] no studies to date have examined how functional movement relates to swim performance in either adults or youth swimmers. As swimmers start heavy training at a relatively young age it is important to assess which parameters may be the best predictors of sprint swimming performance to enhance youth development programmes [19,21]. For coaches such data is useful in highlighting the key anthropometric variables that might best relate to 100 m freestyle performance in early adolescent swimmers after controlling for any impact of physical maturation.…”

Longitudinal Assessment of Swimming Performance in the 200-m Freestyle Event

“…This can be explained by changes that occurred during swimmers development, in different maturational stages. As swimming performance is determined by different parameters, the swimmers development will affect the energy cost of swimming [5]. Changes in anthropometric characteristics, like body length and body mass, are identified as causes to increase energy cost [6].…”