Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(12): 854-859
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1265175
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Reproducibility of Limb Power Outputs and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Exercise Using a Novel Swimming Training Machine

I. L. Swaine1 , A. M. Hunter2 , K. J. Carlton3 , J. D. Wiles1 , D. Coleman1
  • 1Canterbury Christ Church University, Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure, Canterbury, United Kingdom
  • 2University of Stirling, School of Sport Sciences, Stirling, United Kingdom
  • 3Canterbury Christ Church University, Geographical and Life Sciences, Canterbury, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 13, 2010

Publication Date:
08 October 2010 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of limb power outputs and cardiopulmonary responses, to incremental whole-body exercise using a novel swimming training machine. 8 swimmers with a mean age of 23.7±4.6 (yrs), stature 1.77±0.13 (m) and body mass of 74.7±2.8 (kg) gave informed consent and participated in repeat exercise testing on the machine. All subjects performed 2 incremental exercise tests to exhaustion using front crawl movements. From these tests peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), peak heart rate (HRpeak), peak power output (Wpeak) and individual limb power outputs were determined. Results showed there were no significant differences between test 1 and 2 for any variable at exhaustion, and the CV% ranged from 2.8 to 3.4%. The pooled mean values were; VO2peak 3.7±0.65 L.min-1, HRpeak 178.7±6.6 b.min-1 and Wpeak 349.7±16.5 W. The mean contributions to the total power output from the legs and arms were (37.3±4.1% and 62.7±5.1% respectively). These results show that it is possible to measure individual limb power outputs and cardopulmonary parameters reproducibly during whole-body exercise using this training machine, at a range of exercise intensities.

Key words

novel machine - leg-kick - arm-pull

References

  • 1 Astrand I, Astrand P-O, Christensen EH, Hedman R. Circulatory and respiratory adaptations to severe muscular work.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1960;  50 250-259
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Bonen A, Wilson BA, Yarkony M, Belcastro AN. Maximal oxygen uptake during free, tethered and flume swimming.  J App Physiol. 1980;  48 232-235
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Bradshaw A, Hoyle J. Correlation between sprinting and dry land power.  J Swim Res. 1993;  9 15-18
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Bucher W. Influence of the leg kick and the arm stroke on the total speed during the crawl stroke. In Lewillie L. Clarys JP (eds) Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Biomechanics in Swimming. Brussels, Belgium, 1974 Baltimore: University Park Press; 1975: 180-187
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Cohen J. Statistsical Power Analysis for the Behavioural Sciences.2nd Edition. Hillsdale NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; 1988
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 6 Costill DL, King DS, Thomas RT, Hargreaves M. Effects of reduced training on muscular power in swimmers.  Physician Sports Med. 1985;  13 94-98 ; 100–101
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Hawley JA, Williams MM, Vickovic MM, Handcock PJ. Muscle power predicts freestyle swimming performance.  Br J Sports Med. 1992;  26 151-155
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Hollander AP, De Groot G, van Ingen-Schenau GJ, Toussaint HM. Contribution of the legs to propulsion in front crawl swimming. In: Ungerechs BE, Wilke K, Reischle K (eds). Swimming Science V. Human Kinetics. Champaign, Illinois; 1988: 39-45
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 10 Holmer I. Energy cost of arm stroke, leg kick and the whole stroke in competitive swimming styles.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1974;  33 105-118
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Hopkins WG. Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science.  Sports Med. 2000;  30 1-15
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Johnson RE, Sharp RL, Hendrick MS. Relationship of swimming power and dryland power to sprint freestyle performance: A multiple regression approach.  J Swim Res. 1993;  9 10-14
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Kimura Y, Yeater RA, Martin RB. Simulated swimming: a useful tool for evaluation the VO2max of swimmers in the laboratory.  Br J Sports Med. 1990;  24 201-206
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Konstantaki M, Winter EM, Swaine IL. Peak oxygen uptake responses to free and simulated swimming using different body segments.  J Swim Res. 2004;  16 18-25
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Magel JR, Faulkner JA. Maximum oxygen uptake of college swimmers.  J Appl Physiol. 1967;  22 929-938
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Magel JR, Foglia GF, McArdle WD, Gutin B, Pechar GS, Katch FL. Specificity of swim training on maximum oxygen uptake.  J Appl Physiol. 1975;  38 151-155
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Maglischo E. Swimming Faster. California, USA: Mayfield Publishing Company; 1982: 81
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Olbrecht J, Clarys JP. EMG of Specific Dry Land Training for the Front Crawl. In: Huijing PA, de Groot G, Hollander JP, (eds). Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming IV. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics; 1983: 136-141
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 19 Payton CJ, Bartlett R. Estimation of propulsive forces in swimming from three-dimensional kinematic data.  J Sports Sci. 1995;  13 447-454
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Rinehardt KF, Kraemer RR, Gormley S, Colan S. Comparison of maximal oxygen uptakes from tethered, the 183 and 457 meter unimpeded supramaximal freestyle swims.  Int J Sports Med. 1991;  12 6-9
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Roberts AJ, Termin B, Reilly MF, Pendergast DR. Effectiveness of biokinetic training on swimming performance in collegiate swimmers.  J Swim Res. 1991;  7 5-11
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Secher NH, Ruberg-Larsen N, Binkhorst RA, Bonde-Petersen F. Maximal oxygen uptake during arm cranking and combined arm plus leg exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1974;  36 515-518
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Sharp RL, Troup JP, Costill DL. Relationship between power and sprint freestyle swimming.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;  14 53-56
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Shephard RJ, Allen C, Benade AJS, Davies CTM, Di Prampero PE, Hedman R, Merrisman JE, Myhre K, Simmons R. The maximum oxygen uptake. An international reference standard of cardiorespiratory fitness.  Bull World Health Organ. 1968;  38 757-764
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Swaine IL. The relationship between physiological variables from a swim bench ramp test and middle-distance swimming performance.  J Swim Res. 1994;  10 41-48
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Swaine IL, Reilly T. The freely chosen swimming stroke rate in a maximal swim and on a biokinetic swim bench.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1983;  15 370-375
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Swaine IL, Zanker CL. The reproducibility of cardiopulmonary responses to exercise using a swim bench.  Int J Sports Med. 1996;  17 140-144
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Swaine IL. Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in swimmers using a swim bench and a leg-kicking ergometer.  Int J Sports Med. 1997;  18 359-363
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Swaine IL, Reavell C, Winter EM, Cooke DS, Maycock KM. A Dry-Land Ergometer for Measurement and Manipulation of Power Output During Front Crawl Arm-Pulling, Leg-Kicking and Whole Body Simulated Swimming. In: Haake SJ, (ed). The Engineering of Sport. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 1998: 93-98
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 30 Swaine IL. Arm and leg power output in swimmers during simulated swimming.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 1288-1292
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 31 Takahashi S, Bone M, Cappaert JM, Barzdukas A, D’Acquisto L, Hollander AP, Troup JP. Validation of a Dryland Swimming Specific Measurement of Anaerobic Power. In. MacLaren D, Reilly T, Lees A (eds). Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming VI. London: E & FN Spon; 1992: 301-305
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 32 Toussaint HM, Knops W, DeGroot G, Hollander AP. The mechanical efficiency of front crawl swimming.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 402-408
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 33 Toussaint HM, Beek PJ. Biomechanics of competitive front crawl swimming.  Sports Med. 1992;  13 8-24
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar

Correspondence

Dr. Ian L. Swaine

Canterbury Christ Church

University

Department of Sport Science

Tourism and Leisure

North Holmes Road

CT1 1QU Canterbury

United Kingdom

Phone: +44/1227/782 375

Fax: +44/1227/767 700

Email: ian.swaine@canterbury.ac.uk