Argyris G. Toubekis

Effects of active and passive recovery on performance during repeated-sprint swimming

Abstract The effect of active and passive recovery on repeated-sprint swimming bouts was studied in eight elite swimmers. Participants performed three trials of two sets of front crawl swims with 5 min rest between sets. Set A consisted of four 30-s bouts of high-intensity tethered swimming separated by 30 s passive rest, whereas Set B consisted of four 50-yard maximal-sprint swimming repetitions at intervals of 2 min. Recovery was active only between sets (AP trial), between sets and repetitions of Set B (AA trial) or passive throughout (PP trial). Performance during and metabolic responses after Set A were similar between trials. Blood lactate concentration after Set B was higher and blood pH was lower in the PP (18.29 ± 1.31 mmol · l−1 and 7.12 ± 0.11 respectively) and AP (17.56 ± 1.22 mmol · l−1 and 7.14 ± 0.11 respectively) trials compared with the AA (14.13 ± 1.56 mmol · l−1 and 7.23 ± 0.10 respectively) trial (P < 0.01). Performance time during Set B was not different between trials (P > 0.05), but the decline in performance during Set B of the AP trial was less marked than in the AA or PP trials (main effect of sprints, P < 0.05). Results suggest that active recovery (60% of the 100-m pace) could be beneficial between training sets, and may compromise swimming performance between repetitions when recovery durations are short (< 2 min).

The effect of leg kick on sprint front crawl swimming

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the influence of leg kick on the pattern, the orientation and the propulsive forces produced by the hand, the efficiency of the arm stroke, the trunk inclination, the inter-arm coordination and the intra-cyclic horizontal velocity variation of the hip in sprint front crawl swimming. Nine female swimmers swam two maximal trials of 25 m front crawl, with and without leg kick. Four camcorders were used to record the underwater movements. Using the legs, the mean swimming velocity increased significantly. On the contrary, the velocity and the orientation of the hand, the magnitude and the direction of the propulsive forces, as well as the Froude efficiency of the arm stroke were not modified. The hip intra-cyclic horizontal velocity variation was also not changed, while the index of coordination decreased significantly. A significant decrease (13%) was also observed in the inclination of the trunk. Thus, the positive effect of leg kick on the swimming speed, besides the obvious direct generation of propulsive forces from the legs, could probably be attributed to the reduction of the body’s inclination, while the generation of the propulsive forces and the efficiency of the arm stroke seem not to be significantly affected.

Physiological responses during interval training at relative to critical velocity intensity in young swimmers

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological responses on three interval training sets performed at intensities relative to the critical velocity which was calculated from two different combinations of distances using a 2-parameter linear model. METHODS In a controlled repeated measures design, ten male well trained swimmers (age: 15.2 ± 1.2 years) swam 5 × 400-m, 10 × 200-m and 20 × 100-m on separate days with rest to swimming ratio 1:8, aiming to maintain the critical velocity calculated from distances of 50, 100, 200, 400-m (CV(4)) or 200, 400-m (CV(200-400)). RESULTS The sustained velocity on the 5 × 400-m was lower compared to CV(4) and velocity on the 20 × 100-m was higher compared to CV(200-400). The velocity on the 10 × 200-m was kept similar to both CV(4) and CV(200-400) (5 × 400-m: 1.27 ± 0.07 vs. CV(4): 1.33 ± 0.09 ms(-1), p<0.05; 20 × 100-m: 1.32 ± 0.02 vs. CV(200-400): 1.28 ± 0.09 ms(-1), p < 0.05; 10 × 200-m: 1.30 ± 0.10 ms(-1) vs. CV(4) and CV(200-400), p > 0.05). The blood lactate concentration increased after 1200 compared to 400-m (4.45 ± 0.23 vs. 5.82 ± 0.24 mmol l(-1), p < 0.05) and was no different between sets (p > 0.05). Stroke rate and stroke length were not different between and within conditions (p>0.05). Heart rate during the recovery periods was lower in the 5 × 400-m compared to 10 × 200-m and 20 × 100-m training set (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Interval swimming pace can be adjusted in relation to critical velocity calculated from distances of 200 and 400-m or from distance of 50, 100, 200, 400 m. When the distance of repetitions is increased from 100 to 200 and 400-m the velocity should be reduced by 2% to achieve similar metabolic responses.

Estimating the energy contribution during single and repeated sprint swimming.

The extent to which aerobic processes contribute to energy supply during short duration sprint swimming is not known. Therefore, the energy contribution to a maximal 30 s fully tethered swim (FTS), and repeated 4 × 30 s high intensity semi‐tethered swimming bouts (STS) with 30 s of passive rest at 95% of the 30 s FTS intensity was estimated in eight elite male swimmers. Blood lactate concentration and pH after the 4 × 30 s test were 12.1 ± 3.6 mmol/L and 7.2 ± 0.1, respectively. Accumulated oxygen demand was estimated to be 50.9 ± 9.6 mL/kg and 48.3 ± 8.4, 47.2 ± 8.5, 47.4 ± 8.3, and 45.6 ± 6.8 mL/kg for the 30 s FTS and 4 × 30 s bouts, respectively. Accumulated oxygen uptake was 16.6 ± 3.6 for the 30 s FTS and progressively increased during the 4 × 30 s bouts 12.2 ± 2.1, 21.6 ± 2.5, 22.8 ± 1.8, and 23.5 ± 2.0 mL/kg (P < 0.01). The estimated aerobic contribution therefore was 33 ± 8% for the 30 s FTS and 25 ± 4, 47 ± 9, 49 ± 8, 52 ± 9% for bouts 1–4 during the 4 × 30 s STS test (P < 0.01). The results underline the importance of aerobic energy contribution during single and repeated high intensity swimming, which should be considered when prescribing swimming training sets of this nature.

Metabolic responses at various intensities relative to critical swimming velocity.

Abstract Toubekis, AG and Tokmakidis, SP. Metabolic responses at various intensities relative to critical swimming velocity. J Strength Cond Res 27(6): 1731–1741, 2013—To avoid any improper training load, the speed of endurance training needs to be regularly adjusted. Both the lactate threshold (LT) velocity and the velocity corresponding to the maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) are valid and reliable indices of swimming aerobic endurance and commonly used for evaluation and training pace adjustment. Alternatively, critical velocity (CV), defined as the velocity that can be maintained without exhaustion and assessed from swimming performance of various distances, is a valid, reliable, and practical index of swimming endurance, although the selection of the proper distances is a determinant factor. Critical velocity may be 3–6 and 8–11% faster compared with MLSS and LT, respectively. Interval swimming at CV will probably show steady-lactate concentration when the CV has been calculated by distances of 3- to 15-minute duration, and this is more evident in adult swimmers, whereas increasing or decreasing lactate concentration may appear in young and children swimmers. Therefore, appropriate corrections should be made to use CV for training pace adjustment. Findings in young and national level adult swimmers suggest that repetitions of distances of 100–400 m, and velocities corresponding to a CV range of 98–102% may be used for pacing aerobic training, training at the MLSS, and possibly training for improvement of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max. Calculation of CV from distances of 200–400, 50–100–200–400, or 100–800 m is an easy and practical method to assess aerobic endurance. This review intends to study the physiological responses and the feasibility of using CV for aerobic endurance evaluation and training pace adjustment, to help coaches to prescribe training sets for different age-group swimmers.

Repeated sprint swimming performance after low- or high-intensity active and passive recoveries.

Toubekis, AG, Adam, GV, Douda, HT, Antoniou, PD, Douroundos, II, and Tokmakidis, SP. Repeated sprint swimming performance after low- or high-intensity active and passive recoveries. J Strength Cond Res 25(1): 109-116, 2011-The purpose of this study was to examine the effects on sprint swimming performance after low- and high-intensity active recovery (AR) as compared to passive recovery. Ten male competitive swimmers (age: 17.9 ± 2.3 years; body mass: 73.2 ± 4.0 kg; height: 1.81 ± 0.04 m, 100-m best time: 54.90 ± 1.96 seconds) performed 8 × 25-m sprints with 120-second rest intervals followed by a 50-m sprint 6 minutes later. During the 120-second and the 6-minute interval periods swimmers rested passively (PAS) or swam at an intensity of 40% (ACT40; 36 ± 8% of the &OV0312;O2max) and 60% (ACT60; 59 ± 7% of the &OV0312;O2max) of their individual 100-m velocity. Performance time of the 8 × 25-m after ACT60 was slower compared with PAS and ACT40, but no difference was observed between ACT40 and PAS conditions (PAS: 12.15 ± 0.48, ACT40: 12.23 ± 0.54, ACT60: 12.35 ± 0.57 seconds, p < 0.05). Performance time of the 50-m sprint was no different between conditions (PAS: 26.45 ± 0.91; ACT40: 26.30 ± 1.18; ACT60: 26.21 ± 1.19 seconds; p > 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was not different between PAS, ACT40, and ACT60 after the 8 × 25-m and the 50-m sprints (p > 0.05). Passive recovery, or low intensity of AR (40% of the 100-m velocity), is advised to maintain repeated 25-m sprint swimming performance when a 2-minute interval period is provided. Active recovery at an intensity corresponding to 60% of the 100-m velocity decreases performance during the 25-m repeated sprints without affecting the performance time on a subsequent longer duration sprint (i.e., 50 m).

Aerobic, resistance and combined training and detraining on body composition, muscle strength, lipid profile and inflammation in coronary artery disease patients.

ABSTRACT Fifty-six elderly individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease participated in the study and were divided into four groups: an aerobic exercise group, a resistance exercise group, a combined (aerobic + resistance) exercise group and a control group. The three exercise groups participated in 8 months of exercise training. Before, at 4 and at 8 months of the training period as well as at 1, 2 and 3 months after training cessation, muscle strength was measured and blood samples were collected. The resistance exercise caused significant increases mainly in muscle strength whereas aerobic exercise caused favourable effects mostly on lipid and apolipoprotein profiles. On the other hand, combined exercise caused significant favourable effects on both physiological (i.e. muscle strength) and biochemical (i.e. lipid and apolipoprotein profile and inflammation status) parameters, while the return to baseline values during the detraining period was slower compared to the other exercise modalities.

The influence of the hand’s acceleration and the relative contribution of drag and lift forces in front crawl swimming

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the hand’s acceleration on the propulsive forces and the relative contribution of the drag and lift on their resultant force in the separate phases of the front crawl underwater arm stroke. Ten female swimmers swam one trial of all-out 25-m front crawl. The underwater motion of each swimmer’s right hand was recorded using four camcorders and four periscope systems. Anatomical landmarks were digitised, and the propulsive forces generated by the swimmer’s hand were estimated from the kinematic data in conjunction with hydrodynamic coefficients. When the hand’s acceleration was taken into account, the magnitude of the propulsive forces was greater, with the exception of the mean drag force during the final part of the underwater arm stroke. The mean drag force was greater than the mean lift force in the middle part, while the mean lift force was greater than the mean drag force in the final part of the underwater arm stroke. Thus, swimmers should accelerate their hands from the beginning of their backward motion, press the water with large pitch angles during the middle part and sweep with small pitch angles during the final part of their underwater arm stroke.

Competitive Performance, Training Load and Physiological Responses During Tapering in Young Swimmers

Abstract The study examined the changes of training load and physiological parameters in relation to competitive performance during a period leading to a national championship. The training content of twelve swimmers (age: 14.2±1.3 yrs) was recorded four weeks before the national championship (two weeks of normal training and two weeks of the taper). The training load was calculated: i) by the swimmer’s session-RPE score (RPE-Load), ii) by the training intensity levels adjusted after a 7x200-m progressively increasing intensity test (LA-Load). Swimmers completed a 400- m submaximal intensity test, a 15 s tethered swimming and hand-grip strength measurements 34-35 (baseline: Test 1), 20-21 (before taper: Test 2) and 6-7 (Test 3) days before the national championship. Performance during the national championship was not significantly changed compared to season best (0.1±1.6%; 95% confidence limits: -0.9, 1.1%; Effect Size: 0.02, p=0.72) and compared to performance before the start of the two-week taper period (0.9±1.7%; 95% confidence limits: 0.3, 2.1%; Effect size: 0.12, p=0.09). No significant changes were observed in all measured physiological and performance related variables between Test 1, Test 2, and Test 3. Changes in RPE-Load (week-4 vs. week-1) were correlated with changes in performance (r=0.63, p=0.03) and the RPE-Load was correlated with the LALoad (r=0.80, p=0.01). The estimation of the session-RPE training load may be helpful for taper planning of young swimmers. Increasing the difference between the normal and last week of taper training load may facilitate performance improvements.

Physiological Responses and Stroke-Parameter Changes During Interval Swimming in Different Age-Group Female Swimmers

Abstract Tsalis, G, Toubekis, AG, Michailidou, D, Gourgoulis, V, Douda, H, and Tokmakidis, SP. Physiological responses and stroke-parameter changes during interval swimming in different age-group female swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 26(12): 3312–3319, 2012—The purpose of the study was to examine the physiological responses, the stroke-parameter changes, and the ability to sustain a velocity corresponding to critical velocity (CV) during interval swimming on female swimmers of different age groups. Eight children (C; age: 10.4 ± 0.6 years), 11 young (Y; age: 13.1 ± 0.4 years), and 7 adults (A; age: 19.9 ± 4.6 years) swam all-out efforts of 50, 100, 200, 400 m for CV and critical stroke rate (CSR) calculation. Subsequently, the swimmers performed an interval training set of 5 × 300-m (C) and 5 × 400-m repetitions (Y and A) at a velocity corresponding to CV. The CV was higher in the Y and A compared with the C group (C: 0.962 ± 0.05, Y: 1.168 ± 0.09, A: 1.217 ± 0.05 m·s−1, p < 0.05). The velocity of 5 × 300 and 5 × 400 m was not different compared with CV (C: 100 ± 2%, Y: 98 ± 3%, A: 98 ± 3% of CV, p > 0.05). The blood lactate concentration was similar between groups and was maintained steady within each group (C: 4.5 ± 1.4, Y: 4.9 ± 1.4, A: 3.9 ± 1.3 mmol·L−1, p > 0.05). Heart rate was higher in the C and Y compared with the A group during the last 100 m of each repetition (p < 0.05). Stroke rate remained unchanged during the repetitions and was similar between groups and no different to the CSR (p > 0.05). Stroke length of the fifth repetition was 4.5 ± 4.0% shorter compared with the second repetition in the Y and 5.3 ± 2.0% shorter compared with the first repetition in the A group (p < 0.05). During the 28- to 31-minute duration intermittent swimming, children and young and adult female swimmers were able to sustain CV with a steady and similar blood lactate concentration. Decreased stroke length may indicate an earlier fatigue in young and adult swimmers.