Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(06): 426-438
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-123707
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Validity of Postexercise Measurements to Estimate Peak VO2 in 200-m and 400-m Maximal Swims

Ferran A. Rodríguez
1   INEFC-Barcelona Sport Sciences Research Group, Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
Diego Chaverri
1   INEFC-Barcelona Sport Sciences Research Group, Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
Xavier Iglesias
1   INEFC-Barcelona Sport Sciences Research Group, Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
Thorsten Schuller
2   German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Physiology and Anatomy, Cologne, Germany
,
Uwe Hoffmann
2   German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Physiology and Anatomy, Cologne, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



Accepted after revision 30 November 2016

Publication Date:
08 May 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

To assess the validity of postexercise measurements to estimate oxygen uptake (V˙O2) during swimming, we compared V˙O2 measured directly during an all-out 200-m swim with measurements estimated during 200-m and 400-m maximal tests using several methods, including a recent heart rate (HR)/V˙O2 modelling procedure. 25 elite swimmers performed a 200-m maximal swim where V˙O2 was measured using a swimming snorkel connected to a gas analyzer. The criterion variable was V˙O2 in the last 20 s of effort, which was compared with the following V˙O2peak estimates: 1) first 20-s average; 2) linear backward extrapolation (BE) of the first 20 and 30 s, 3×20-s, 4×20-s, and 3×20-s or 4×20-s averages; 3) semilogarithmic BE at the same intervals; and 4) predicted V˙O2peak using mathematical modelling of 0–20 s and 5–20 s during recovery. In 2 series of experiments, both of the HR/V˙O2 modelled values most accurately predicted the V˙O2peak (mean ∆=0.1–1.6%). The BE methods overestimated the criterion values by 4–14%, and the single 20-s measurement technique yielded an underestimation of 3.4%. Our results confirm that the HR/V˙O2 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.

Key words

maximal oxygen uptake - modeling - oxygen kinetics - heart rate kinetics - testing - backward extrapolation
 

  • References

  • 1 Baldari C, Fernandes RJ, Meucci M, Ribeiro J, Vilas-Boas JP, Guidetti L. Is the new AquaTrainer(R) snorkel valid for VO2 assessment in swimming?. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 336-344
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Barbosa T, Silva AJ, Reis AM, Costa M, Garrido N, Policarpo F, Reis VM. Kinematical changes in swimming front crawl and breaststroke with the AquaTrainer snorkel. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010; 109: 1155-1162
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bland JM, Altman DG. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet 1986; 327: 307-310
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Chaverri D, Iglesias X, Schuller T, Hoffmann U, Rodriguez FA. Estimating peak oxygen uptake based on postexercise measurements in swimming. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2016; 41: 588-596
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Chaverri D, Schuller T, Iglesias X, Hoffmann U, Rodriguez FA. A new model for estimating peak oxygen uptake based on postexercise measurements in swimming. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2016; 11: 419-424
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Costa MJ, Bragada JA, Mejias JE, Louro H, Marinho DA, Silva AJ, Barbosa TM. Effects of swim training on energetics and performance. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 507-513
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Costill DL, Kovaleski J, Porter D, Kirwan J, Fielding R, King D. Energy expenditure during front crawl swimming: predicting success in middle-distance events. Int J Sports Med 1985; 6: 266-270
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Di Prampero PE, Cortili G, Mognoni P, Saibene F. Energy cost of speed skating and efficiency of work against air resistance. J Appl Physiol 1976; 40: 584-591
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Di Prampero PE, Peeters L, Margaria R, Alactic O. 2 debt and lactic acid production after exhausting exercise in man. J Appl Physiol 1973; 34: 628-632
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Di Prampero PE, Pendergast DR, Wilson DW, Rennie DW. Energetics of swimming in man. J Appl Physiol 1974; 37: 1-5
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Fernandes RJ, de Jesus K, Baldari C, de Jesus K, Sousa AC, Vilas-Boas JP, Guidetti L. Different VO2max time-averaging intervals in swimming. Int J Sports Med 2012; 33: 1010-1015
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Figueiredo P, Zamparo P, Sousa A, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. An energy balance of the 200 m front crawl race. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 767-777
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 García-Ramos A, Feriche B, Calderón C, Iglesias X, Barrero A, Chaverri D, Schuller T, Rodríguez FA. Training load quantification in elite swimmers using a modified version of the training impulse method. Eur J Sport Sci 2014; 15: 85-93
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research: 2016 Update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1121-1124
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Holmér I. Oxygen uptake during swimming in man. J Appl Physiol 1972; 33: 502-509
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 3-13
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Jürimäe J, Haljaste K, Cicchella A, Latt E, Purge P, Leppik A, Jürimäe T. Analysis of swimming performance from physical, physiological, and biomechanical parameters in young swimmers. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2007; 19: 70-81
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Kapus J, Strumbelj B, Usaj A, Kapus V. The breathing frequency changes during swimming by using respiratory valves and tubes. Rev Port Cien Desp (Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming X) 2006; 6: 229-231
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Katch VL. Kinetics of oxygen uptake and recovery for supramaximal work of short duration. Arbeitsphysiologie 1973; 31: 197-207
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Keskinen K, Keskinen O, Rodríguez FA. Effect of a respiratory snorkel and valve system on front crawl kinematics during standardized pool testing. In: Mester J, King G, Strüder H, Tsolakidis E, Osterburg A. eds. 6th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. Cologne: Sport und Buch Strauss; 2001: 538
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Keskinen KL, Rodríguez FA, Keskinen OP. Respiratory snorkel and valve system for breath-by-breath gas analysis in swimming. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2003; 13: 322-329
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Kjendlie PL, Stallman R, Stray-Gundersen J. Influences of a breathing valve on swimming technique. In: Chatard JC. ed. Biomechanics and Medicine In Swimming IX. Saint-Étienne: Publications de l’Université de Saint-Étienne; 2003: 69-73
    Google Scholar
  • 23 Lavoie J-M, Léger LA, Montpetit RR, Chabot S. Backward extrapolation of VO2 from the O2 recovery curve after a voluntary maximal 400m swim. In: Hollander AP, Huijing PA, De Groot G. eds. Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming: Human Kinetics. Champaign, Illinois: 1983: 222-227
    Google Scholar
  • 24 Léger LA, Seliger V, Brassard L. Backward extrapolation of VO2max values from the O2 recovery curve. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1980; 12: 24-27
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Montpetit RR, Léger LA, Lavoie JM, Cazorla G. VO2 peak during free swimming using the backward extrapolation of the O2 recovery curve. Eur J Appl Physiol 1981; 47: 385-391
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Morgan DW, Baldini FD, Martin PE, Kohrt WM. Ten kilometer performance and predicted velocity at VO2max among well-trained male runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1989; 21: 78-83
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Reis VM, Marinho DA, Policarpo FB, Carneiro AL, Baldari C, Silva AJ. Examining the accumulated oxygen deficit method in front crawl swimming. Int J Sports Med 2010; 31: 421-427
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Ribeiro JP, Cadavid E, Baena J, Monsalvete E, Barna A, De Rose EH. Metabolic predictors of middle-distance swimming performance. Br J Sports Med 1990; 24: 196-200
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Roberts AD, Morton AR. Total and alactic oxygen debts after supramaximal work. Eur J Appl Physiol 1978; 38: 281-289
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Rodríguez FA. Cardiorespiratory and metabolic field testing in swimming and water polo: from physiological concepts to practical methods. In: Keskinen KL, Komi PV, Hollander AP. eds. Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming VIII. University of Jyväskylä. Finland: Gummerus Printing; 1999: 219-226
    Google Scholar
  • 31 Rodríguez FA. Metabolic testing in aquatic sports: a new field approach. In: Klaus D, Wilke K. eds. Bewegen im Wasser – Mehr als nur Schwimmen. Köln: Sport & Buch Strauß; 1999: 86-98
    Google Scholar
  • 32 Rodríguez FA. Maximal oxygen uptake and cardiorespiratory response to maximal 400-m free swimming, running and cycling tests in competitive swimmers. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2000; 40: 87-95
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Rodríguez FA, Iglesias X, Feriche B, Calderon-Soto C, Chaverri D, Wachsmuth NB, Schmidt W, Levine BD. Altitude training in elite swimmers for sea level performance (Altitude Project). Med Sci Sports Exerc 2015; 47: 1965-1978
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Rodríguez FA, Keskinen KL, Keskinen OP, Malvela M. Oxygen uptake kinetics during free swimming: a pilot study. In: Chatard J-C. (ed.). Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming IX. Saint-Étienne: Publications de l’Université de Saint-Étienne; 2003: 379-384
    Google Scholar
  • 35 Rodríguez FA, Keskinen KL, Kusch M, Hoffmann U. Validity of a swimming snorkel for metabolic testing. Int J Sports Med 2008; 29: 120-128
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Rodríguez FA, Lätt E, Jürimäe J, Mäestu J, Purge P, Rämson R, Haljaste K, Keskinen KL, Jürimäe T. VO2 kinetics in all-out arm stroke, leg kick and whole stroke front crawl 100-m swimming. Int J Sports Med 2016; 37: 191-196
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Rodríguez FA, Mader A. Energy systems in swimming. In: Seifert L, Chollet D, Mujika I. eds. World Book of Swimming: From Science to Performance. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc; 2011: 225-240
    Google Scholar
  • 38 Rossiter HB, Kowalchuk JM, Whipp BJ. A test to establish maximum O2 uptake despite no plateau in the O2 uptake response to ramp incremental exercise. J Appl Physiol 2006; 100: 764-770
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Sousa A, Figueiredo P, Keskinen KL, Rodríguez FA, Machado L, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. VO2 off transient kinetics in extreme intensity swimming. J Sports Sci Med 2011; 10: 546-552
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Sousa A, Figueiredo P, Oliveira N, Oliveira J, Keskinen K, Vilas-Boas J, Fernandes R. Comparison between swimming VO2peak and VO2max at different time intervals. Open Sports Sci J 2010; 3: 22-24
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Sousa A, Figueiredo P, Pendergast D, Kjendlie PL, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. Critical evaluation of oxygen-uptake assessment in swimming. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2014; 9: 190-202
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Sousa A, Rodriguez FA, Machado L, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. Exercise modality effect on oxygen uptake off-transient kinetics at maximal oxygen uptake intensity. Exp Physiol 2015; 100: 719-729
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Sousa AC, Figueiredo P, Oliveira NL, Oliveira J, Silva AJ, Keskinen KL, Rodríguez FA, Machado LJ, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. VO2 kinetics in 200-m race-pace front crawl swimming. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 765-770
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Toussaint HM, Hollander AP. Energetics of competitive swimming. Implications for training programmes. Sports Med 1994; 18: 384-405
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Tural E, Kara N, Agaoglu SA, Elbistan M, Tasmektepligil MY, Imamoglu O. PPAR-alpha and PPARGC1A gene variants have strong effects on aerobic performance of Turkish elite endurance athletes. Mol Biol Rep 2014; 41: 5799-5804
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Zamparo P, Capelli C, Cautero M, Di Nino A. Energy cost of front-crawl swimming at supra-maximal speeds and underwater torque in young swimmers. Eur J Appl Physiol 2000; 83: 487-491
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Zamparo P, Capelli C, Pendergast D. Energetics of swimming: a historical perspective. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 367-378
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Zamparo P, Dall’ora A, Toneatto A, Cortesi M, Gatta G. The determinants of performance in master swimmers: a cross-sectional study on the age-related changes in propelling efficiency, hydrodynamic position and energy cost of front crawl. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 3949-3957
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Zamparo P, Lazzer S, Antoniazzi C, Cedolin S, Avon R, Lesa C. The interplay between propelling efficiency, hydrodynamic position and energy cost of front crawl in 8 to 19-year-old swimmers. Eur J Appl Physiol 2008; 104: 689-699
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar