CTS527 - Artículos

Open water swimming in elite triathletes: physiological and biomechanical determinants

2025-05-28T07:57:34Z

Open water swimming in elite triathletes: physiological and biomechanical determinants López Belmonte, Óscar; Gay Párraga, Ana; Ruiz Navarro, Jesús Juan; Cuenca Fernández, Francisco; Cejuela, Roberto; Arellano Colomina, Raúl This study aimed (i) to analyze the 1500 m open water swimming performance, (ii) to examine the associations between physiological and biomechanical variables with swimming performance, and (iii) to determine which variables can predict swimming performance in triathletes. Fourteen elite triathletes (23.4±3.8y) performed a 1500m test in open water swimming conditions. Swimming performance was assessed using World Aquatics Points Scoring, and data were obtained from the 1500 m open water swimming test. Heart rate, end-exercise oxygen uptake (EEVO˙ 2) and blood lactate concentrations were measured. The initial 250m of the 1500m swimming test presented the highest values of biomechanical variables in males (i. e. swimming speed, stroke rate (SR), length (SL), index (SI)). A decrease in SL was observed in the last 250m in both sexes. Positive association were found between EEVO˙ 2 (r = 0.513; p = 0.030), swimming speed (r = 0.873; p < 0.001) and SI (r=0.704; p=0.002) with swimming performance. In contrast, time constant of the oxygen uptake (r = −0.500; p = 0.034) and buoy-turn times (r = −0.525; p = 0.027) were negatively associated with performance. SI was the main predictor (R2 = 0.495) of open water swimming performance in triathletes. In conclusion, triathletes and coaches must conduct open water training sessions to maximize SI (i. e. swimming efficiency).

Lactate Threshold and Swimming Performance in World-Class Open-Water Swimmers

2025-05-28T08:18:45Z

Lactate Threshold and Swimming Performance in World-Class Open-Water Swimmers López Belmonte, Óscar; Baldasarre, Roberto; Ruiz Navarro, Jesús Juan; Bonifazi, Marco; Arellano Colomina, Raúl; Piacentini, Maria Francesca Purpose: The assessment of lactate threshold (LT) and its relationship to open-water (OW) performance is crucial. This study aimed (1) to analyze LT in world-class OW swimmers, (2) to compare swimming speed at LT (SSLT) and 4 mmol·L−1 of blood lactate concentration ([La−]; SS4), and (3) to examine the relationships between SSLT and swimming performance. Methods: Twenty world-class and elite (11 male, 26.4 [3.0] y; 9 female, 25.8 [3.6] y) OW swimmers voluntarily participated. A total of 46 (29 male and 17 female) intermittent incremental tests (7 × 400 m) conducted in a 50-m pool were analyzed. Seasonal best performances on 400-, 800-, and 1500-m and 10-km OW swimming events were obtained. Results: The SSLT was 1.62 (0.02) (3.8 [1.0] mmol·L−1) and 1.46 (0.04) m·s−1 (3.0 [0.7] mmol·L−1) in males and females, respectively, which corresponded to 97% of the peak speed reached in the tests. There were no differences (P = .148) between SSLT and SS4 in males; however, SSLT was lower (P = .019) than SS4 in females. The SSLT was negatively correlated with swimming performance, with the exception of 10-km OW and 400-m times in males and females, respectively. Conclusions: World-class and elite OW swimmers exhibited a greatly developed aerobic capacity with LT close to their maximum speed. The SS4 could be used as an approximation to SSLT in males but overestimates true aerobic capacity in females. LT is a useful tool for assessing performance, as OW swimmers with higher SSLT showed better swimming performance.

Detraining Effect on Sprint Swimming Performance and Load–Velocity Profile

2025-05-28T06:55:11Z

Detraining Effect on Sprint Swimming Performance and Load–Velocity Profile Ruiz Navarro, Jesús Juan; López Belmonte, Óscar; Febles-Castro, Adrián; Gay Párraga, Ana; López Contreras, Gracia; Morales Ortiz, Esther; Arellano Colomina, Raúl Purpose: To assess the effect of 5-week training-cessation period on performance and load–velocity profile-related variables. Methods: Twenty-four competitive swimmers (15 male and 9 female: 19.2 [3.7] and 17.3 [2.3] y, 50-m front-crawl 550 [70], and 572 [51] World Aquatics points, respectively) performed a 50-m front-crawl all-out swim, a load–velocity profile, and a pull-up test before and after a 5-week off-season period. Kinematic variables, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion were monitored during the load–velocity profile tests. Results: Performance was impaired 1.3% for males (P < .01) and 3.8% for females (P < .01). Neither anthropometric changes (males r2 = .277, females r2 = .218, P > .05) nor the physical activity performed during the off-season (males r2 = .329, females r2 = .094, P > .05) attenuated performance impairments. While males counteracted the stroke-rate decline (P < .05) by increasing stroke length (P < .05) in the majority of the race, females did not, leading to a decline in clean swimming speed (P < .05). The maximum load at zero velocity decreased (P < .05) during the load–velocity profile test. In addition, males showed an increased blood lactate concentration (P < .05), whereas females decreased the maximum velocity at zero load (P < .01) and stroke rate (P < .01). No change in the slope was observed for either sex (P > .05). Conclusion: Following a 5-week off-season period, sprint swimming performance declines (males 0.34 s; females 1.15 s). The load–velocity profile and related variables evidenced deterioration, showing changes in blood lactate concentration, maximum load at zero velocity, average velocity during the third trial, and stroke rate. This study was supported by the Grant 379 PID2022.142147NB.100 (SWIM III) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ 380 and by ERDF, EU. AFC has an FPI fellowship, PID2022-142147NB-I00, which is part 381 of the aforementioned grant and OLB was supported by the grant FPU19/02477 funded 382 by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.

Exploring the load–velocity profile with sprint swimming performance and sex differences

2025-05-28T08:15:12Z

Exploring the load–velocity profile with sprint swimming performance and sex differences Ruiz Navarro, Jesús Juan; Born, Dennis-Peter; Febles-Castro, Adrián; Gay Párraga, Ana; López Belmonte, Óscar; Morales Ortiz, Esther; López Contreras, Gracia; Arellano Colomina, Raúl This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the load–velocity profile and sprint swimming performance and kinematics, explore the inter-relationships of the load–velocity profile variables and blood lactate concentrations [La−] and dry-land strength (pull-ups), and examine sex-based differences. Twenty-seven swimmers (15 males: 19.2±3.7 y; 50 m front-crawl 550±70 World Aquatics points; 12 females: 17.7±2.4 y; 50 m front-crawl 552±63 World Aquatics points) underwent a 50 m front-crawl all-out swim test, a load–velocity profile test, and a pull-up test. Theoretical maximum velocity was associated with sprint swimming performance (r>0.863 and p<0.001), but not the theoretical maximum load (L 0) or the slope (p>0.05) for both sexes. An association between kinematics during the load–velocity profile test and free swimming was weakened as the load increased, with the correlation coefficient (r) decreasing from 0.929 to 0.403. Theoretical maximum velocity and theoretical maximum load were primarily associated with both sexes with the first (r>0.950 and p<0.001) and last (r>0.849 and p<0.001) semi-tethered trials, respectively. Only in females [La−] was associated with the theoretical maximum load and slope (r>0.573 and p<0.05). Males exhibited greater values than females in all the assessed variables (p<0.05) except for stroke rates and [La−]. The load–velocity profile is a valuable tool for assessing performance in both sexes. Kinematic parameters were related between semi-tethered and free swimming; however, association diminished with increasing load. This study was supported by the Grant PID2022-142147NB-I00 (SWIM III) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and by ERDF, EU. AFC holds an FPI fellowship (PID2022-142147NB-I00), which is funded through the aforementioned grant.

The determinant factors of undulatory underwater swimming performance: a systematic review

2025-01-23T10:46:48Z

The determinant factors of undulatory underwater swimming performance: a systematic review Ruiz Navarro, Jesús Juan; Cuenca Fernández, Francisco; Sanders, Ross H.; Arellano Colomina, Raúl The prominence of undulatory underwater swimming (UUS) has been clearly observed during recent international events. Improvement of this phase is important for overall performance. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the key factors that modulate UUS performance and provide coaches and sports science practitioners with valuable and practical information to optimise it. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched up to 14 October 2021. Studies involving competitive swimmers and which included UUS performance assessment were considered. Methodological quality assessment was conducted for the included articles. From the 193 articles screened, 15 articles were included. There was a substantial body of research conducted on kicking frequency, vertical toe and body wave velocity, angular velocity of the joints, distance per kick, joint amplitudes and mobility, and body position in UUS performance. However, further investigation is required for muscle activation and muscle strength influence. The results from this review contribute to understanding of how to optimise UUS performance, identifying the key aspects that must be addressed during training. Specifically, the caudal momentum transfer should be maximised, the upbeat duration reduced, and the frequency that best suits swimmers’ characteristics should be identified individually.