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Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(3): 195-198
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1268474
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anaerobic Critical Velocity in Four Swimming Techniques

H. P. Neiva1 , R. J. Fernandes1 , J. P. Vilas-Boas1
  • 1Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, CIFI2D, Porto, Portugal
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 21, 2010

Publication Date:
16 December 2010 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess critical velocity in order to control and evaluate anaerobic swimming training. 51 highly trained male swimmers performed maximal 15, 25, 37.5 and 50 m in the 4 swimming techniques to determine critical velocity from the distance-time relationship. Anaerobic critical velocity was compared with 100 m swimming performance and corresponding partials. Complementarily, 9 swimmers performed a 6×50 m (4 min interval) training series at front crawl individual anaerobic critical velocity, capillary blood lactate concentrations being assessed after each repetition. The mean±SD values of anaerobic critical velocity and its relationship with the 100 m event were: 1.61±0.07 (r=0.60, p=0.037), 1.53±0.05 (r=0.81, p=0.015), 1.33±0.05 (r=0.83, p=0.002), and 1.75±0.05 (r=0.74, p=0.001), for butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and front crawl, respectively. However, differences between anaerobic critical velocity and performance were observed (with exception of the second half of the 100 m swimming events in breaststroke and butterfly). Lactate concentration values at the end of the series were 14.52±1.06 mmol.l−1, which suggests that it was indeed an anaerobic training set. In this sense, anaerobic critical velocity can be used to prescribe anaerobic training intensities.

Key words

evaluation - diagnosis - training

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Correspondence

Prof. Ricardo Jorge Fernandes

University of Porto

Faculty of Sport,

Swimming

Rua Dr.Plácido Costa 91

4200 Porto

Portugal

Phone: +351/22/5074 763

Fax: +351/22/5500 687

Email: ricfer@fade.up.pt