Correlations between upper limb oxygen kinetics and performance in elite swimmers

In swimming competitions, a good maximal oxygen uptake (O2max) is well correlated with performance in mid and long distance events. Along O2max, oxygen uptake adaptation (O kinetic) and oxygen consumption at steady state (O2ss) are also important factors that influence the performance. Concerning oxygen kinetic parameters, the primary time constant (τ) seems to play the main role in O kinetics. The purpose of this study was to look at a possible relationship between Ừ, as well as other physiologic parameters and performance in 400 m crawl in elite swimmers. Ten elite swimmers were tested in a swimming and in a laboratory in six sessions. O2peak and ventilatory threshold (VT) were determined during an incremental to exhaustion test (ET) on an arm crank ergometer. A constant load tests (CT) at 75% (>VT) and 35% (<VT) of O2max were performed for both arms (UBE) and legs (LBE) on the arm crank ergometer and a cycle ergometer respectively. A maximal 400m crawl (CR) was also swum and time trial was used as performance best. Peak power output (Wpeak), heart rate (HR), lactate concentration [La−], τ, as well as other physiologic parameters, were also identified. CR significantly correlated with Wpeak (r= 0.81, p<0.01) and HR (r=0.71, p<0.05) in UBE. No significant correlations were found with τ (p>0.05). The results indicate that O kinetics, using our protocol, do not seem well correlated with CR in elite swimmers. Further studies are needed to clarify whether either using a swimming flume, or assessing long-distance and short-distance swimmers might give different results.