Biophysical Impact of 5-Week Training Cessation on Sprint Swimming Performance

in International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Jesús J. Ruiz-NavarroAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Ana GayAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Rodrigo ZaccaResearch Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto (FADEUP), Porto, Portugal
Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal

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Francisco Cuenca-FernándezAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Óscar López-BelmonteAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Gracia López-ContrerasAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Esther Morales-OrtizAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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Raúl ArellanoAquatics Lab, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2022-0045
Keywords:
exercise physiology; oxygen uptake kinetics; energetic; biomechanics; detraining
First Published Online:
21 Jul 2022
In Print:
Volume 17: Issue 10
Page Range:
1463–1472
Restricted access

Purpose: To assess changes in swimming performance, anthropometrics, kinematics, energetics, and strength after 5-week training cessation. Methods: Twenty-one trained and highly trained swimmers (13 males: 17.4 [3.1] y; 50-m front crawl 463 [77] FINA points; 8 females: 16.7 [1.7] y; 50-m front crawl 535 [48] FINA points) performed a 50-m front-crawl all-out swim test, dryland and pool-based strength tests, and 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-m front-crawl all-out efforts for anaerobic critical velocity assessment before and after a 5-week training cessation. Heart rate and oxygen uptake (V˙O2) were continuously measured before and after the 50-m swim test (off-kinetics). Results: Performance was impaired 1.9% (0.54 s) for males (P = .007, d = 0.91) and 2.9% (0.89 s) for females (P = .033, d = 0.93). Neither the anthropometrical changes (males: r2 = .516, P = .077; females: r2 = .096, P = .930) nor the physical activities that each participant performed during the off-season (males: r2 = .060, P = .900; females: r2 = .250, P = .734) attenuated performance impairments. Stroke rate and clean swimming speed decreased (P < .05), despite similar stroke length and stroke index (P > .05). Blood lactate concentrations remained similar (P > .05), but V˙O2 peak decreased in females (P = .04, d = 0.85). Both sexes showed higher heart rate before and after the 50-m swim test after 5 weeks (P < .05). Anaerobic metabolic power deterioration was only observed in males (P = .035, d = 0.65). Lower in-water force during tethered swimming at zero speed was observed in males (P = .033, d = 0.69). Regarding dryland strength, lower-body impairments were observed for males, while females showed upper-body impairments (P < .05). Conclusions: A 5-week training cessation yielded higher heart rate in the 50-m front crawl, anaerobic pathways, and dryland strength impairments. Coaches should find alternatives to minimize detraining effects during the off-season.

Arellano (r.arellano@ugr.es) is corresponding author.

Supplementary Materials

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