Anaerobic Alactic Energy Assessment in Short-Distance Maximal
                    Swimming Performance

Jesús J Ruiz-Navarro; Ana Gay; Raúl Arellano; Rodrigo Zacca

doi:10.1055/a-2630-4269

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2630-4269

Training & Testing

Anaerobic Alactic Energy Assessment in Short-Distance Maximal Swimming Performance

Jesús J Ruiz-Navarro ‡

¹Aquatics Lab., Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16741)

²Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16741)

,

Ana Gay ‡

¹Aquatics Lab., Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16741)

²Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16741)

,

Raúl Arellano

¹Aquatics Lab., Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16741)

²Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16741)

,

Rodrigo Zacca

³Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

⁴Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal

⁵Nucleus of Research in Human Motricity Sciences, Universidad Adventista de Chile, Chillán, Chile

⁶Laboratory of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

We aimed to compare the anaerobic alactic (AnAL) energy expenditure from a 50-m front crawl swimming between two methodologies in highly trained short-distance swimmers: (i) based on the maximal phosphocreatine (PCr) splitting in contracting muscles (AnAL_PCRSPLITTING) and (ii) based on the oxygen uptake ( ˙VO₂) off-kinetics, where AnAL is estimated from the area under the curve of the fast component (amplitude in liters×time constant in minutes) of the 10-minute of excess postexercise oxygen consumption (AnAL_VO2KINETICS). Thirty-nine 50-m front-crawl all-out (time trial) swimming performances and respective off-transient kinetics pulmonary ˙VO₂ samples (23 men: 17.0±2.6 y and; 16 women: 17.0±2.1 y) were analyzed. We observed no differences (η ² _p=0.044; p=0.068) between AnAL_PCRSPLITTING (41.7±6.1 kJ) and AnAL_VO2KINETICS (37.6±12.7 kJ). Bland–Altman plots indicated high bias (3.79–4.42 kJ) and precision (agreement) (limits:−21.31 to 30.14 kJ) between methods, with repeatability ranging from “poor” to “moderate” (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.34–0.53; p=0.018–0.157), indicating proportional error that varies with the magnitude of the measurements. Although both methods showed overall agreement, their conceptual and methodological differences introduce proportional error. Thus, they should not be used interchangeably, but rather considered complementary, when feasible, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of AnAL energy expenditure in short-duration maximal efforts such as 50-m swimming.

Keywords

Short Maximal Exercise - Energetics - Off-Kinetics - Sprint - Methodological

Full Text

References

References
1 Zamparo P, Cortesi M, Gatta G. The energy cost of swimming and its determinants. Eur J Appl Physiol 2020; 120: 41-66
2 Hargreaves M, Spriet LL. Skeletal muscle energy metabolism during exercise. Nat Metab 2020; 2: 817-828
3 Ruiz-Navarro JJ, Gay A, Zacca R. et al. Biophysical impact of 5-week training cessation on sprint swimming performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2022; 17: 1463-1472
4 Gastin PB. Energy system interaction and relative contribution during maximal exercise. Sports Med 2001; 31: 725-741
5 Peyrebrune MC, Toubekis AG, Lakomy HKA, Nevill ME. Estimating the energy contribution during single and repeated sprint swimming. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2014; 24: 369-376
6 Ribeiro J, Figueiredo P, Sousa A. et al. VO₂ kinetics and metabolic contributions during full and upper body extreme swimming intensity. Eur J Appl Physiol 2015; 115: 1117-1124
7 Capelli C, Pendergast DR, Termin B. Energetics of swimming at maximal speeds in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1998; 78: 385-393
8 Zamparo P, Capelli C, Pendergast D. Energetics of swimming: A historical perspective. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 367-378
9 Sousa A, Figueiredo P, Zamparo P, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. Anaerobic alactic energy assessment in middle distance swimming. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; 113: 2153-2158
10 Campos EZ, Kalva-filho CA, Silva MS. et al. Anaerobic Contribution Determined in Free-Swimming : Sensitivity to Maturation Stages and Validity. Front Sports Act Living 2022; 4: 760296
11 di Prampero PE. Energetics of muscular exercise. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 1981; 89: 143-222
12 Thevelein X, Daly D, Persyn U. Measurement of total energy use in the evaluation of competitive swimmers. In: Bachl N, Suckaert L, Prakop R, editors Current topics in sports medicine. Wien: Urban & Schwartzenberg; 1984. pp. 668-676
13 Zacca R, Mezêncio B, de Souza Castro FA. et al. Case study: Comparison of swimsuits and wetsuits through biomechanics and energetics in elite female open water swimmers. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021. 17. 130-136
14 Rossiter HB, Ward SA, Kowalchuk JM, Howe FA, Griffiths JR, Whipp BJ. Dynamic asymmetry of phosphocreatine concentration and O2 uptake between the on- and off-transients of moderate- and high-intensity exercise in humans. J Physiol 2002; 541: 991-1002
15 Knuttgen HG. Oxygen debt after submaximal physical exercise. J Appl Physiol 1970; 29: 651-657
16 Ozyener F, Rossiter HB, Ward SA, Whipp BJ. Influence of exercise intensity on the on- and off- transient kinetics of pulmonary oxygen uptake in humans. J Physiol 2001; 533: 891-902
17 Whipp BJ, Rossiter HB. The kinetics of oxygen uptake: physiological inferences from parameters. In: Jones A, Poole D, editors Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Sport, Exercise and Medicine. London, UK: Routledge; 2005. pp. 62-94
18 Beneke R, Pollmann C, Bleif I, Leithäuser RM, Hütler M. How anaerobic is the wingate anaerobic test for humans?. Eur J Appl Physiol 2002; 87: 388-392
19 Di Prampero PE, Davies CT, Cerretelli P, Margaria R. An analysis of O2 debt contracted in submaximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 1970; 29: 547-551
20 Almeida TAF, Pessôa Filho DM, Espada MAC. et al. VO 2 kinetics and energy contribution in simulated maximal performance during short and middle distance-trials in swimming. Eur J Appl Physiol 2020; 120: 1097-1109
21 Gaesser GA, Brooks GA. Metabolic bases of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption: a review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1984; 16: 29-43
22 Margaria R, Edwards HT, Dill DB. The possible mechanisms of contracting and paying the oxygen debt and the role of lactic acid in muscular contraction. Am J Physiol-Legacy Content 1933; 106: 689-715
23 Di Prampero PE, Ferretti G. The energetics of anaerobic muscle metabolism: A reappraisal of older and recent concepts. Respir Physiol 1999; 118: 103-115
24 Bangsbo J, Hellsten Y. Muscle blood flow and oxygen uptake in recovery from exercise. Acta Physiol Scand 1998; 162: 305-312
25 Smith DL, Plowman SA, Ormsbee MJ. Exercise Physiology for Health Fitness and Performance. Wolters Kluver; 2023
26 Rossiter HB. The “Anaerobic Threshold” Concept Is Valid in Physiology and Medicine. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53: 1089-1092
27 Poole DC, Jones AM. Oxygen uptake kinetics. Compr Physiol 2012; 2: 933-996
28 Francescato MP, Cettolo V, Di Prampero PE. Relationships between mechanical power, O2 consumption, O2 deficit and high-energy phosphates during calf exercise in humans. Pflugers Arch 2003; 445: 622-628
29 di Prampero PE. Factors limiting maximal performance in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 90: 420-429
30 Binzoni T, Ferretti G, Schenker K, Cerretelli P. Phosphocreatine hydrolysis by 31P-NMR at the onset of constant-load exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 1992; 73: 1644-1649
31 Cerretelli P, Aghemo P, Rovelli E. Aspetti fisiologici dell’adolescente in relazione alla pratica dell’esercizio fisico. Med Sport Turin 1968; 21: 731-743
32 Margaria R, Cerretelli P, Mangili F. Balance and kinetics of anaerobic energy release during strenuous exercise in man. J Appl Physiol 1964; 19: 623-628
33 Hill A, Long C, Lupton H. Muscular exercise, lactic acid and the supply and utilisation of oxygen. Part VI. Proc R Soc 1924; 97: 127-137
34 Short KR, Sedlock DA. Excess postexercise oxygen consumption and recovery rate in trained and untrained subjects. J Appl Physiol 1997; 83: 153-159
35 Mann TN, Webster C, Lamberts RP, Lambert MI. Effect of exercise intensity on post-exercise oxygen consumption and heart rate recovery. Eur J Appl Physiol 2014; 114: 1809-1820
36 Bahr R, Grønnerød O, Sejersted OM. Effect of supramaximal exercise on excess postexercise O2 consumption. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1992; 24: 66-71
37 Bangsbo J, Gollnick PD, Graham TE, Saltin B. Substrates for muscle glycogen synthesis in recovery from intense exercise in man. J Physiol 1991; 434: 423-440
38 Mckay AKA, Stellingwerff T, Smith ES. et al. Defining training and performance caliber : a participant classification framework. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2022; 17: 317-331
39 Ruiz-Navarro JJ, López-Belmonte Ó, Gay A, Cuenca-Fernández F, Arellano R. A new model of performance classification to standardize the research results in swimming. Eur J Sport Sci 2023; 23: 478-488
40 Monteiro AS, Carvalho DD, Azevedo R, Vilas-Boas JP, Zacca R, Fernandes RJ. Post-swim oxygen consumption: Assessment methodologies and kinetics analysis. Physiol Meas 2020; 41: 105005
41 Zacca R, Azevedo R, Figueiredo P. et al. VO₂ FITTING: A Free and Open-Source Software for Modelling Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Swimming and other Exercise Modalities. Sports 2019; 7: 31
42 Sousa AC, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. VO 2 kinetics and metabolic contributions whilst swimming at 95, 100, and 105% of the velocity at VO 2 max. Biomed Res Int 2014; 2014: 675363
43 Ferguson CJ. An Effect Size Primer: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers. Prof Psychol Res Pr 2009; 40: 532-538
44 Shapiro JR, Klein SL, Morgan R. Stop controlling for sex and gender in global health research. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6: 6-8
45 Roberts AD, Morton AR. Total and alactic oxygen debts after supramaximal work. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1978; 38: 281-289