V˙O2 kinetics and tethered strength influence the 200-m front crawl stroke kinematics and speed in young male swimmers

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between the fast component of oxygen consumption developed in 1-min <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> and force indices both measured in tethered swimming test and to assess the influence of the gathered indices on speed and swimming kinematics in 200-m front crawl race. <b>Methods:</b> Forty-eight male swimmers (aged 13.5 ± 0.9 years old) participated in this study. Testing included 1) 1-min all-out front crawl tethered swimming while oxygen consumption (breath by breath) and tethered forces were measured, 2) 200-m front crawl race-like swimming featuring kinematic analysis, and 3) biological age (<i>BA</i>) examination. <b>Results:</b> During the 1-min all-out tethered swimming test, a linear increase in oxygen consumption was observed. There were moderate to high partial correlations between particular periods of seconds in the 1-min <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> : 31-60, 41-60, and 51-60 and <i>F</i> _max, <i>F</i> _<i>ave</i> , and <i>I</i> _<i>ave</i> of tethered swimming, while 41-60 and 51-60 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> were moderately to highly interrelated with all the swimming speed indices and <i>SI</i>. The swimming speed indices significantly interplayed with <i>SL</i>, <i>SI</i>, <i>F</i> _max, <i>F</i> _<i>ave</i> , and <i>I</i> _<i>ave</i> . Partial correlations were computed with <i>BA</i> control. <b>Conclusion:</b> The ability of reaching a high level of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> fast is essential for a swimmer's energy production at short- and middle-distance events. Reaching a high level of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> significantly determines tethered strength and swimming kinematics. The level of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mi>O</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> influences the maintenance of a proper pulling force and the stroke technique of front crawl swimming in young male swimmers.