No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of swimming distance and rest interval on the intensity of swimming (relative to VO2 max) and the contributions of the three energy systems (aerobic, anaerobic, and alactic) during these interval sets. Nine male college swimmers performed fourteen different interval training sets. Distances were 25, 50, 100, or 200 yards with rest intervals of 10 seconds, 1, and 3 minutes. During these sets only the distance to be swum and the rest interval for the set was given. No qualitative information from the coach was provided. These interval sets were performed by the swimmers with the influence from timers being kept minimal. Oxygen cost during the swim was determined from the velocity of the swim based on a linear regression for swimming velocity and oxygen uptake for each swimmer. The same interval sets were completed with pace controled where venous blood samples were obtained 1, 3, 5, and 7 minutes after the completion of each training set. 81ood samples were analyzed for lactate accumulation, blood pH, p0.,, pCO2, and hemoglobin. From these values bicarbonate, base excess, and blood oxygen saturation were calculated using equations developed by Siggard-Anderson. The results of this study do indicate that there is a predictable relationship between swimming distance and rest interval on swimming intensity (relative to VO., max). There was a curvilinear L relationship between swimming intensity (relative to VO max) and rest interval for 50, 100, and 200 yard interval sets. The correlation at these distances were r-0.96, 0.93, and 0.94 respectively. There was a linear relationship between intensity and the distance swum for the 10 second, 1, and 3 minute rest intervals. The correlation for these rest intervals were r= 0.99, 0.99, and 1.00 respectively. There was an increase in the relative contribution of aerobic energy as the distance of the swim increased for all three rest intervals. At a given swiming distance there was a greater contribution of non-aerobic energy as the rest interval increased. Contrary to continuous swimming, greater swimming velocity does not directly correspond to greater contributions of anaerobic energy during intermittent swimming. The distance and rest interval during intermittent training greatly effect the relative contributions of the three energy systems. The intensity of the swim and the relative contributions of each energy system should be considered when planning specific training regimens.

Twelve competitive male swimmers were studied for a comparison of lactate/velocity profiles to heart rate/velocity profiles during a season of swim training. Lactate concentration (mM) and post-exercise heart rate (sum of three) after a 200-yard submaximal swim (approximately 90% of maximal attainable velocity) and a maximal swim were determined three times during the season: at the beginning (T1), after two months of training (T2) and after four months of training (T3). Both profiles demonstrated a significant rightward shift at T2 and a smaller, further shift at T3. Both lactate and heart rate significantly decreased at an absolute and relative exercise intensity in response to training. It is concluded that either parameter can be useful in monitoring training progress and for determining optimal training intensities. Because of the expense and difficulty of blood lactate measurements, heart rate/ velocity profiles can provide a practical and non-invasive alternative to blood lactate testing.

Despite similar rates of energy expenditure during training, competitive swimmers have been shown to store significantly greater amounts of body fat than competitive runners. In an attempt to explain these discrepancies, male collegiate swimmers (n=8) and runners (n=8) were monitored during 45 min of swimming and running, respectively (75% V02 max), and during two hours of recovery. In addition, a group of male competitive triathletes (n=6) were similarly monitored during and after both swimming and running exercise.Blood samples were obtained after 15 min rest prior to exercise and at 0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min of recovery and were analyzed for glucose, lactate, glycerol, free fatty acids, insulin, glucagons, norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E). Respiratory gases were collected at 15 min intervals during exercise and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min of recovery. Heart rate and mean body temperature were recorded at 10 min intervals throughout recovery. There were no differences in post-exercise oxygen consumption or heart rate while the RER suggested increased fat oxidation after exercise for the swimmers and the swimming triathletes. The mean body temperature and mean skin temperatures were significantly lower throughout 120 min of recovery for the swimmers compared to the runners. The triathletes demonstrated a similar tendency but these differences were not significant. The serum glucose levels were significantly greater (P<0.05) immediately post-exercise for the runners compared to the swimmers (6.71 +0.29 and 4.97 +0.19 mmol•1-1, respectively). Blood glucose values were also significantly greater immediately post-run for the triathletes (6.40 +0.26 and 4.87 ±0.18 mmol-l-1 for running and swimming, respectively). Blood glucose values remained elevated for runners and the running triathletes up to 30 min of recovery. Free fatty acids were similar after the run and the swim, but glycerols were increased immediately after running in the runners (P<0.05) and the triathletes (P<0.05). Differences in blood glucose levels or fat release were not explained by differences in NE, E or cortisol. The glucagon-to-insulin (G:I) ratio was significantly increased after exercise in the swimmers and the swimming triathletes. This, combined with a reduced RER after the swimming trials, suggests that the reduced glucose levels were due to reduced hepatic glycogen stores. The results of this study suggest that there were differences in substrate utilization during running and swimming exercise of the same intensity. These differences were not explained by NE, E or cortisol; however, the increased G:T ratio suggests increased carbohydrate use during exercise in the swimmers. Finally, body fat differences between runners and swimmers were not explained by differences in post-exercise energy expenditure or fat oxidation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-163) / Microfiche. / xi, 163 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

The purpose of this study was to determine if mild heat stress induced by wearing a wet suit while swimming in relatively warm water (25.4 ± 0.1°C) increases the risk of heat injury during the subsequent cycling and running stages. Specificlly, during an Olympic distance triathlon in a hot and humid environment (32°C & 65% RH). Five male triathletes randomly completed two simulated triathlons (Swim=30 min; Bike=40 km; Run=10 km) in the laboratory using a swimming flume, cycle ergometer, and running treadmill. In both trials, all conditions were identical, except for the swimming portion in which a full length, sleeveless neoprene wet suit was worn during one trial (WS) and a competitive brief swimming suit during the other (SS). The swim portion consisted of a 30 min standardized swim in which oxygen consumption (V02) was replicated, regardless of WS or SS. During the cycling and running stages, however, the subjects were asked to complete the distances as fast as possible. Core Temperature (T) was not significantly different between the SS and WS trials at any time point during the triathlon. However, mean skin temperature (TSk) and mean body temperature (Tb) were higher (p<0.05) in the WS at 15 (TSk=+4.1°C, Tb=+1.5°C) and 30 min (TSk=+4°C, Tb=+1.6°C) of the swim. These TSk and Tb differences were eliminated by 15 min of the cycling stage and remained similar (p>0.05) through the end of the triathlon. Moreover, there were no differences (p>0.05) in V02, heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), or thermal sensation (TS) between the WS and SS. Additionally, no significant differences were found in cycling (SS=1:14:46 ± 2:48 vs. WS=1:14:37 ± 2:54 min), running (SS=55:40 ± 1:49 vs. WS=57:20 ± 4:00 min) or total triathlon times (SS=2:40:26 ± 1:58 vs. WS=2:41:57 ± 1:37 min). Therefore, the primary finding was that wearing a wet suit during the swimming stage of an Olympic distance triathlon in 25.4°C water does not adversely affect the thermal responses or the triathlete's ability to perform on the subsequent cycling and running stages. / School of Physical Education

Twelve middle aged men and women (23-59 years) participated in twelve weeks (36 sessions) of endurance swim training at an approximate intensity of 75% maximum heart rate (Karvonen Method) (14). This training resulted in improved cardiorespiratory fitness as evidenced by a significant (9.4%) increase in mean maximal oxygen uptake (liters/ min.) and a significant bradycardial response during submaximal walking. Subjects lost significant amounts of subcutaneous body fat, as measured by skinfold calipers, but experienced very little change in absolute body weight (.1 kg.) suggesting an increase in muscle weight. Data from the submaximal walking test, administered after each 12 session period of training, showed a nonlinear decline in heart rate throughout training. This, possibly, was in response to an accumulating fatigue factor brought on by a rapid increase in the amount of total work that the subjects were doing during the middle stage of training.

This thesis contains three cross-sectional studies and an equipment development study, presented in the form of journal submissions, regarding the hydrodynamics experienced by swimmers during the various phases of the freestyle tumble turn.

Swimming performance is primarily judged on the overall time taken for a swimmer to complete a specified distance performing a stroke that complies with current regulations defined by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), the International governing body of swimming. There are three contributing factors to this overall time; the start, free swimming and turns. The contribution of each of these factors is event dependent; for example, in a 50m event there are no turns, however, the start can be a significant contributor. To improve overall performance each of these components should be optimised in terms of skill and execution. This thesis details the research undertaken towards improving performance-related feedback in swimming. The research included collaboration with British Swimming, the national governing body for swimming in the U.K., to drive the requirements and direction of research. An evaluation of current methods of swimming analysis identified a capability gap in real-time, quantitative feedback. A number of components were developed to produce an integrated system for comprehensive swim performance analysis in all phases of the swim, i.e. starts, free swimming and turns. These components were developed to satisfy two types of stakeholder requirements. Firstly, the measurement requirements, i.e. what does the end user want to measure? Secondly, the process requirements, i.e. how would these measurements be achieved? The components developed in this research worked towards new technologies to facilitate a wider range of measurement parameters using automated methods as well as the application of technologies to facilitate the automation of current techniques. The development of the system is presented in detail and the application of these technologies is presented in case studies for starts, free swimming and turns. It was found that developed components were able to provide useful data indicating levels of performance in all aspects of swimming, i.e. starts, free swimming and turns. For the starts, an integrated solution of vision, force plate technology and a wireless iii node enabled greater insight into overall performance and quantitative measurements of performance to be captured. Force profiles could easily identify differences in swimmer ability or changes in technique. The analysis of free swimming was predominantly supported by the wireless sensor technology, whereby signal analysis was capable of automatically determining factors such as lap times variations within strokes. The turning phase was also characterised in acceleration space, allowing the phases of the turn to be individually assessed and their contribution to total turn time established. Each of the component technologies were not used in isolation but were supported by other synchronous data capture. In all cases a vision component was used to increase understanding of data outputs and provide a medium that coaches and athletes were comfortable with interpreting. The integrated, component based system has been developed and tested to prove its ability to produce useful, quantitative feedback information for swimmers. The individual components were found to be capable of providing greater insight into swimming performance, that has not been previously possible using the current state of the art techniques. Future work should look towards the fine-tuning of the prototype system into a useable solution for end users. This relies on the refinement of components and the development of an appropriate user interface to enable ease of data collection, analysis, presentation and interpretation.