Reproducibility of Performance in Three Types of Training Test in Swimming

Abstract

A variety of testing procedures are used to assess the effects of particular treatments on the training status of athletes. The present study aims to investigate the reproducibility of selected tests in swimming. Sixteen trained swimmers performed three kinds of test: 1) Constant Distance Test (CDT), 2) Constant Time Test (CTT), and 3) Constant Velocity Test (CVT). The analysis of the reproducibility was based on a test-retest procedure. The test-retest performances were highly correlated for the three kinds of test (r = 0.98, 0.98, and 0.93 for CDT, CTT and CVT, respectively). The mean Coefficient of Variation (CV) was computed between test-retest for each subject and each procedure. A repeated measures one-way ANOVA showed that CVT was significantly less reliable (CV = 6.46 ± 6.24 %) than CDT and CTT (CV = 0.56 ± 0.60 % and 0.63 ± 0.54 % respectively) (p < 0.001). Psychological factors and a lack of familiarity with CVT (not extensively used during training session) could explain its greater variability. Thus, CDT and CTT seem to be the most reliable tests to detect the smallest meaningful change in the training status of swimmers. Post-hoc power calculations of the experimental design showed the sample size would have to increase to 80, 113, and 228 subjects for CWT, CDT and CPT respectively, to reach a power of 80 %. The minimal detectable differences have to be calculated to ensure a real effect of a particular treatment on a group of swimmers, according to the kind of test used.

Key words

Reliability - constant distance test - constant time test - constant velocity test

Reference

• 1 Bausell R B, Li Y-F. Power Analysis for Experimental Research. Cambridge United Kingdom; Cambridge University Press 2002: 376
• 2 Billat V, Renoux J C, Pinoteau J. Reproducibility of running time to exhaustion at V·O_2max in subelite runners.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 254-257
• 3 Bishop D. Reliability of a 1-h endurance performance test in trained female cyclists.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 554-559
• 4 Chollet D, Moretto P, Pelayo P, Sidney M. Energetics effects of velocity and stroke rate control in non-expert swimmers. Troup JP, Hollander AP, Strasse D, Trappe SW, Cappaert JM, Trappe TA Swimming Science VII. London; E & F. N. SPO 1996: 172-176
• 5 Dekerle J, Dupont L, Caby I, Marais G, Vanvelcenaher J, Lavoie J M, Pelayo P. Ventilatory thresholds in arm and leg exercises with spontaneously chosen crank and pedal rates.  Percept Motor Skills. 2002;  95 1035-1046
• 6 Dekerle J, Sidney M, Hespel J M, Pelayo P. Validity and reliability of critical speed, critical stroke, and anaerobic capacity in relation to front crawl swimming performances.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 93-98
• 7 Fernandes R J, Cardoso C S, Soares S M, Ascensao A, Colaco P J, Vilas-Boas J P. Time limit and VO2 slow component at intensities corresponding to VO2max in swimmers.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 576-581
• 8 Hickey M S, Costill D L, McGonell G K, Widrick J J, Tanaka H. Day to day variation in time trial cycling performance.  Int J Sports Med. 1992;  13 467-470
• 9 Hopkins W G. Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science.  Sports Med. 2000;  30 1-15
• 10 Hopkins W G, Hewson D J. Variability of competitive performance of distance runners.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1588-1592
• 11 Jeukendrup A, Saris W H, Brouns F, Kester A D. A new validated endurance performance test.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 266-270
• 12 Krebs P S, Power S K. Reliability of endurance tests (abstract).  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1989;  21 S10
• 13 Kyle S B, Smoak B L, Douglass L W, Deuster P A. Variability of responses across training levels to maximal treadmill exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1989;  67 160-165
• 14 Laursen P B, Shing C M, Jenkins D G. Reproducibility of a laboratory-based 40-km cycle time-trial on a stationary wind-trainer in highly trained cyclists.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 481-485
• 15 Laursen P B, Shing C M, Jenkins D G. Reproducibility of the cycling time to exhaustion at V·O₂ peak in highly trained cyclists.  Can J Appl Physiol. 2003;  28 605-615
• 16 Lavoie J M, Montpetit R R. Applied physiology of swimming.  Sports Med. 1986;  3 165-189
• 17 McLellan T M, Cheung S S, Jacobs I. Variability of time to exhaustion during submaximal exercise.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1995;  20 39-51
• 18 Murray R, Seifert J G, Eddy D E, Paul G L, Halaby G A. Carohydrate feeding and exercise: Effet of beverage carbohydrate content.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1989;  59 152-158
• 19 Olbrecht J, Madsen O, Mader A, Liesel H, Hollman W. Relationship between swimming velocity and acid lactic concentration during continuous and intermittent training exercise.  Int J Sports Med. 1985;  6 74-77
• 20 Palmer G S, Dennis S C, Noakes T D, Hawley J A. Assessment of the reproducibility of performance testing on a air-braked cycle ergometer.  Int J Sports Med. 1996;  17 293-298
• 34 Russel R D, Redmann S M, Ravussin E, Hunter G R, Enette Larson-Meyer D. Reproducibility of endurance performance on a treadmill using a preloaded time trial.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;  36 717-724
• 21 Schabort E J, Hawley J A, Noakes T D. A new reliable laboratory test of endurance performance for road cyclists.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 1744-1750
• 22 Schabort E J, Hopkins W G, Hawley J A. Reproducibility of self-paced treadmill performance of trained endurance runners.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 48-51
• 23 Schabort E J, Hopkins W G, Hawley J A. High reliability of performance of well-trained rowers on a rowing ergometers.  J Sports Sci. 1999;  17 627-632
• 24 Smith M F, Davison R CR, Balmer J, Bird S R. Reliability of mean power recorded during indoor and outdoor self-paced 40-km cycling time trails.  Int J Sports Med. 2001;  22 270-274
• 25 Stewart A M, Hopkins W G. Consistency of swimming performance within and between competition.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 997-1001
• 26 Vandewalle H, Vautier J F, Kachouri M, Lechevalier J M, Monod H. Work-exhaustion time relationship and critical power concept: A critical review.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1997;  37 89-102
• 27 Vilas-Boas J P, Lamares J P, Fernandes R, Duarte J A. Relationship between anaerobic threshold and swimming critical speed determined with competition times. Abstracts book of the FIMS 9th European Congress of Sports Medicine. Porto; 1997: 88-91
• 28 Vincent J W. Statistics in Kinesiology. 2nd ed. California State University; Northridge Publisher, Human Kinetics 1999
• 29 Wakayoshi K, Ikuta K, Yoshida T, Udo M, Moritani T, Mutoh Y, Miyashita M. Determining and validity of critical velocity as an index of swimming performance in the competitive swimmer.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  64 153-157
• 30 Wakayoshi K, Yoshida T, Ikuta Y, Mutoh Y, Miyashita M. Adaptations to six months of aerobic swim training. Changes in velocity, stroke rate, stroke length and blood lactate.  Int J Sports Med. 1993;  14 368-372
• 31 Wakayoshi K, Yoshida T, Kasai T, Moritani T, Mutoh Y, Miyashita M. A simple method for determining critical speed as swimming fatigue threshold in competitive swimming.  Int J Sports Med. 1992;  13 367-371
• 32 Wilmore J H. Influence of motivation on physical work capacity and performance.  J Appl Physiol. 1968;  24 459-463
• 33 Winter E M, Eston R G, Lamb K L. Statistical analyses in the physiology of exercise and kinanthropometry.  J Sports Sci. 2001;  19 761-775