Masao Udo

Determination and validity of critical velocity as an index of swimming performance in the competitive swimmer

SummaryThe purpose of this investigation was to test whether the concept of critical power used in previous studies could be applied to the field of competitive swimming as critical swimming velocity (νcrit). The νcrit, defined as the swimming velocity over a very long period of time without exhaustion, was expressed as the slope of a straight line between swimming distance (dlim) at each speed (with six predetermined speeds) and the duration (tlim). Nine trained college swimmers underwent tests in a swimming flume to measure νcrit at those velocities until the onset of fatigue. A regression analysis ofdlim on trim calculated for each swimmer showed linear relationships (r2>0.998,P<0.01), and the slope coefficient signifying νcrit ranged from 1.062 to 1.262 m · s−1 with a mean of 1.166 (SD 0.052) m · s−1. Maximal oxygen consumption (

Interlimb coordination in cat locomotion investigated with perturbation

\dot VO_{2\max }

A new learning paradigm : adaptive changes in interlimb coordination during perturbed locomotion in decerebrate cats

), oxygen consumption (

Physiological characteristics related to endurance running performance in female distance runners

\dot VO_2

Climbing fiber responses in cerebellar vermal Purkinje cells during perturbed locomotion in decerebrate cats

) at anaerobic threshold, and the swimming also velocity at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (νOBLA) were also determined during the incremental swimming test. The νcrit showed significant positive correlations with