Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6-week specific preparatory period
and 2-week taper period on neuromuscular fatigue profile in 100-m front crawl
swimming performance. Seventeen competitive-level young-adult swimmers performed
a 100-m swimming performance at baseline and after 6-week specific preparatory
followed by 2-week taper periods. Neuromuscular fatigue profile was assessed
through percutaneous electrical stimuli on the femoral nerve during a maximal
voluntary contraction performed before and immediately after each 100-m maximal
effort. Performance improved (p=0.001) 2.24 and 3.06% after
specific and taper, respectively. Potentiated peak force at post-effort
condition decreased (p<0.001) 16.26% at baseline, 11.70%
at specific, and 12.86% at taper period. Maximal voluntary contraction
force also decreased (p<0.001) at post-effort condition by about 6.77
and 9.33% at baseline and specific period, respectively. Both variables
did not present significant differences between times. No condition or time
effects were observed to superimposed peak force and voluntary activation, both
related to central fatigue. In conclusion, neuromuscular fatigue during 100-m
swimming performance was exclusively developed by peripheral mechanisms
regardless of the training period, and 2-week taper was able to prevent
decreases in maximal voluntary contraction induced by 100-m maximal effort.
Key words
voluntary activation - twitch interpolation technique - percutaneous electrical stimuli