scholarly journals Can an Incremental Step Test Be Used for Maximal Lactate Steady State Determination in Swimming? Clues for Practice

Author(s):  
Mário C. Espada ◽  
Francisco B. Alves ◽  
Dália Curto ◽  
Cátia C. Ferreira ◽  
Fernando J. Santos ◽  
...  

We aimed to compare the velocity, physiological responses, and stroke mechanics between the lactate parameters determined in an incremental step test (IST) and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). Fourteen well-trained male swimmers (16.8 ± 2.8 years) were timed for 400 m and 200 m (T200). Afterwards, a 7 × 200-m front-crawl IST was performed. Swimming velocity, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLC), stroke mechanics, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured throughout the IST and in the 30-min continuous test (CT) bouts for MLSS determination. Swimming velocities at lactate threshold determined with log-log methodology (1.34 ± 0.06 m∙s−1) and Dmax methodology (1.40 ± 0.06 m∙s−1); and also, the velocity at BLC of 4 mmol∙L−1 (1.36 ± 0.07) were not significantly different from MLSSv, however, Bland–Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement and the concordance correlation coefficient showed poor strength of agreement between the aforementioned parameters which precludes their interchangeable use. Stroke mechanics, HR, RPE, and BLC in MLSSv were not significantly different from the fourth repetition of IST (85% of T200), which by itself can provide useful support to daily practice of well-trained swimmers. Nevertheless, the determination of MLSSv, based on a CT, remains more accurate for exercise evaluation and prescription.

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Funai ◽  
Masaru Matsunami ◽  
Shoichiro Taba

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine how arm stroke swimming with critical stroke rate (CSR) control would influence physiological responses and stroke variables in an effort to identify a new swimming training method. Seven well-trained male competitive swimmers (19.9 ± 1.4 years of age) performed maximal 200 and 400 m front crawl swims to determine the CSR and critical swimming velocity (CV), respectively. Thereafter, they were instructed to perform tests with 4 × 400 m swimming bouts at the CSR and CV. The swimming time (CSR test: 278.96 ± 2.70 to 280.87 ± 2.57 s, CV test: 276.17 ± 3.36 to 277.06 ± 3.64 s), heart rate, and rated perceived exertion did not differ significantly between tests for all bouts. Blood lactate concentration after the fourth bout was significantly lower in the CSR test than in the CV test (3.16 ± 1.43 vs. 3.77 ± 1.52 mmol/l, p < 0.05). The stroke rate and stroke length remained stable across bouts in the CSR test, whereas the stroke rate increased with decreased stroke length across bouts in the CV test (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the stroke rate (39.27 ± 1.22 vs. 41.47 ± 1.22 cycles/min, p < 0.05) and stroke length (2.20 ± 0.07 vs. 2.10 ± 0.04 m/stroke, p < 0.05) between the CSR and CV tests in the fourth bout. These results indicate that the CSR could provide the optimal intensity for improving aerobic capacity during arm stroke swimming, and it may also help stabilize stroke technique.


Author(s):  
O.A.B. Soares ◽  
G.C. Ferraz ◽  
C.B. Martins ◽  
D.P.M. Dias ◽  
J.C. Lacerda-Neto ◽  
...  

The anaerobic threshold is a physiologic event studied in various species. There are various methods for its assessment, recognized in the human and equine exercise physiology literature, several of these involving the relationship between blood lactate concentration (LAC) and exercise load, measured in a standardized exercise test. The aim of this study was to compare four of these methods: V2, V4, individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) and lactate minimum speed (LMS) with the method recognized as the gold standard for the assessment of anaerobic threshold, maximal lactate steady-state (MLSS). The five tests were carried out in thirteen trained Arabian horses, in which velocities and associated LAC could be measured. The mean velocities and the LAC associated with the anaerobic threshold for the five methods were respectively: V2 = 9.67±0.54; V4 = 10.98±0.47; V IAT = 9.81±0.72; V LMS = 7.50±0.57 and V MLSS = 6.14±0.45m.s-1 and LAC IAT = 2.17±0.93; LAC LMS = 1.17±0.62 and LAC MLSS = 0.84±0.21mmol.L-1. None of the velocities were statistically equivalent to V MLSS (P<0.05). V2, V4 and V LMS showed a good correlation with V MLSS , respectively: r = 0.74; r = 0.78 and r = 0.83, and V IAT did not significantly correlate with V MLSS. Concordance between the protocols was relatively poor, i.e., 3.28±1.00, 4.84±0.30 and 1.43±0.32m.s-1 in terms of bias and 95% agreement limits for V2, V4 and LMS methods when compared to MLSS. Only LAC LMS did not differ statistically from LAC MLSS. Various authors have reported the possibility of the assessment of anaerobic threshold using rapid protocols such as V4 and LMS for humans and horses. This study corroborates the use of these tests, but reveals that adjustments in the protocols are necessary to obtain a better concordance between the tests and the MLSS.


Sports ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Gavriil G. Arsoniadis ◽  
Ioannis S. Nikitakis ◽  
Petros G. Botonis ◽  
Ioannis Malliaros ◽  
Argyris G. Toubekis

Background: Physiological and biomechanical parameters obtained during testing need validation in a training setting. The purpose of this study was to compare parameters calculated by a 5 × 200-m test with those measured during an intermittent swimming training set performed at constant speed corresponding to blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol∙L−1 (V4). Methods: Twelve competitive swimmers performed a 5 × 200-m progressively increasing speed front crawl test. Blood lactate concentration (BL) was measured after each 200 m and V4 was calculated by interpolation. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), stroke rate (SR) and stroke length (SL) were determined during each 200 m. Subsequently, BL, HR, SR and SL corresponding to V4 were calculated. A week later, swimmers performed a 5 × 400-m training set at constant speed corresponding to V4 and BL-5×400, HR-5×400, RPE-5×400, SR-5×400, SL-5×400 were measured. Results: BL-5×400 and RPE-5×400 were similar (p > 0.05), while HR-5×400 and SR-5×400 were increased and SL-5×400 was decreased compared to values calculated by the 5 × 200-m test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: An intermittent progressively increasing speed swimming test provides physiological information with large interindividual variability. It seems that swimmers adjust their biomechanical parameters to maintain constant speed in an aerobic endurance training set of 5 × 400-m at intensity corresponding to 4 mmol∙L−1.


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Beneke ◽  
Volker Schwarz ◽  
Renate Leithäuser ◽  
Matthias Hütler ◽  
Serge P. von Duvillard

Maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) corresponds to the prolonged constant workload whereby the kinetics of blood lactate concentration clearly increases from steady state. Different results of MLSS in children may reflect specific test protocols or definitions. Three methods corresponding to lactate time courses during 20 min (MLSS I), 16 min (MLSS II), and 8 min (MLSS III) of constant submaximal workload were intraindividually compared in 10 boys. At MLSS I, lactate, V̇O2peak, heart rate, and workload were higher (p < .05) than at MLSS II and at MLSS III. The differences between MLSS I, MLSS II, and MLSS III reflect insufficient contribution to lactate kinetics by testing procedures, strongly depending on the lactate time courses during the initial 10 min of constant workload. Previously published divergent results of MLSS in children seem to reflect a methodological effect more than a metabolic change.


Author(s):  
Cristiano Cardoso de Matos ◽  
Bruno Costa Teixeira ◽  
Flávio Antônio de Souza Castro

One of the great challenges for swim coaches is proper control of the training intensity. This issue is more complex when using equipment such as paddles and fins. Among intensity control parameters, blood lactate concentration is the standard for monitoring metabolic responses, and heart rate and perceived effort are practical and inexpensive methods. The aim of this study was to compare blood lactate concentration ([LA]), heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in swimming training series without equipment and with paddles and fins. We evaluated 11 swimmers on three different days during sessions in a series of 12 repetitions of 50 m in front crawl. The first session was performed without equipment, maintaining perception exertion at 15 (15 points) of the 6-20 point Borg scale. In the second and third sessions, athletes should swim in the series with: (i) paddles and (ii) fins, at the same swimming speed of the series without equipment, in random order. [LA], HR and RPE at rest (after warm-up and before swimming series) and after the sixth and 12th repetitions were measured and compared. The mean speed for all series was 1.30 ± 0.13 m.s-1; fins and paddles presented lower final [LA] (respectively, 5.9 ± 0.3 and 8.1 ± 0.4 mmol.l-1) and HR values (respectively, 161.1 ± 15, 5 161.1 and 170.3 ± 13.3 170.3 bpm) in comparison to series without equipment (respectively, 10.8 ± 0.7 mmol.l-1 and 178.2 ± 4.3 bpm). Fins had lower final RPE values (12.5 ± 0.6 points) in relation to series without equipment (15.8 ± 0.2 points) and similar values in relation to swimming with paddles. Swimming series with equipment produced lower physiological demands in relation to swimming without equipment if performed at the same swimming speed as swimming without equipment. 


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Beneke ◽  
Hermann Heck ◽  
Helge Hebestreit ◽  
Renate M Leithäuser

The value of blood lactate concentration (BLC) measured during incremental load tests in predicting maximal lactate-steady-state (MLSS) workload has rarely been investigated in children. In 17 children and 18 adults MLSS was 4.1 ± 0.9mmol 1.1. Workload at BLC of 3.0mmol 1.1 determined during an incremental load test explained about 80% of the variance (p < .001) and best predicted MLSS workload independent of age. This was despite the increase in power per time related to maximum incremental load test power being higher (p < .001) in children than in adults. The BLC response to given exercise intensities is faster in children without affecting MLSS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Jose Ramon Lillo-Bevia ◽  
Ricardo Moran-Navarro ◽  
Alejandro Martinez-Cava ◽  
Victor Cerezuela ◽  
Jesus G. Pallares

The main aim of this study is to assess the validity of a new cycling protocol to estimate the Maximal Lactate Steady-State workload (MLSS) through a one-day incremental protocol (1day_MLSS). Eleven well-trained male cyclists performed 3 to 4 trials of 30-min constant load test (48-72h in between) to determine their respective MLSS workload. Then, on separate days, each cyclist carried out two identical graded exercise tests, comprised of four 10-minute long stages, with the initial load at 63% of their respective maximal aerobic power, 0.2 W·Kg-1 increments, and blood lactate concentration (BLC) determinations each 5 min. The results of the 1day_MLSS tests were analysed through three different constructs: i) BLC difference between 5th and 10th min of each stage (DIF_5to10), ii) BLC difference between the 10th min of two consecutive stages (DIF_10to10), and iii) difference in the mean BLC between the 5th and 10th min of two consecutive stages (DIF_mean). For all constructs, the physiological steady state was determined as the highest workload that could be maintained with a BLC rise lower than 1mmol·L-1.  No significant differences were detected between the MLSS workload (247 ± 22W) and any of the 1day_MLSS data analysis (250 ± 24W, 245 ± 23W and 243 ± 21W, respectively; p>0.05). When compared to the MLSS workload, strong ICCs and low bias values were found for these three constructs, especially for the DIF_10to10 workload (r=0.960; Bias=2.2 W). High within-subject reliability data were found for the DIF10_10 construct (ICC=0.846; CV=0.4%; Bias=2.2 ± 6.4W). The 1day_MLSS test and DIF_10to10 data analysis is a valid assessment to predict the MLSS workload in cycling, that considerably reduces the dedicated time, effort and human resources that requires the original test. The validity and reliability values reported in this project are higher than those achieved by other previous MLSS estimation tests.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo A. Massini ◽  
Tiago A. F. Almeida ◽  
Camila M. T. Vasconcelos ◽  
Anderson G. Macedo ◽  
Mário A. C. Espada ◽  
...  

This study assessed the energy cost in swimming (C) during short and middle distances to analyze the sex-specific responses of C during supramaximal velocity and whether body composition account to the expected differences. Twenty-six swimmers (13 men and 13 women: 16.7 ± 1.9 vs. 15.5 ± 2.8 years old and 70.8 ± 10.6 vs. 55.9 ± 7.0 kg of weight) performed maximal front crawl swimming trials in 50, 100, and 200 m. The oxygen uptake (V˙O2) was analyzed along with the tests (and post-exercise) through a portable gas analyser connected to a respiratory snorkel. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise (at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th min) to determine blood lactate concentration [La–]. The lean mass of the trunk (LMTrunk), upper limb (LMUL), and lower limb (LMLL) was assessed using dual X-ray energy absorptiometry. Anaerobic energy demand was calculated from the phosphagen and glycolytic components, with the first corresponding to the fast component of the V˙O2 bi-exponential recovery phase and the second from the 2.72 ml × kg–1 equivalent for each 1.0 mmol × L–1 [La–] variation above the baseline value. The aerobic demand was obtained from the integral value of the V˙O2 vs. swimming time curve. The C was estimated by the rate between total energy releasing (in Joules) and swimming velocity. The sex effect on C for each swimming trial was verified by the two-way ANOVA (Bonferroni post hoc test) and the relationships between LMTrunk, LMUL, and LMLL to C were tested by Pearson coefficient. The C was higher for men than women in 50 (1.8 ± 0.3 vs. 1.3 ± 0.3 kJ × m–1), 100 (1.4 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2 kJ × m–1), and 200 m (1.0 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1 kJ × m–1) with p &lt; 0.01 for all comparisons. In addition, C differed between distances for each sex (p &lt; 0.01). The regional LMTrunk (26.5 ± 3.6 vs. 20.1 ± 2.6 kg), LMUL (6.8 ± 1.0 vs. 4.3 ± 0.8 kg), and LMLL (20.4 ± 2.6 vs. 13.6 ± 2.5 kg) for men vs. women were significantly correlated to C in 50 (R2adj = 0.73), 100 (R2adj = 0.61), and 200 m (R2adj = 0.60, p &lt; 0.01). Therefore, the increase in C with distance is higher for men than women and is determined by the lean mass in trunk and upper and lower limbs independent of the differences in body composition between sexes.


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