Intensity control in swim training bymeans of the individual anaerobic threshold

Sabrina Skorski*, Oliver Faude, Axel Urhausen, Wilfried Kindermann, Tim Meyer

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Intensity control in swim training by means of the individual anaerobic threshold. J Strength Cond Res 26(12): 3304-3311, 2012-This study aimed at evaluating the homogeneity of physiological responses during swim training bouts with intensities prescribed by reference to the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Eighteen competitive front crawl swimmers (female 5, male 13, 10 long-distance, and 8 short-distance swimmers [LDSs, SDSs], age: 17 ± 1.7 years, training history: 7.0 ± 2.8 years, training volume per week: 35 ± 5.7 km) performed an incremental swimming test to determine the IAT. Within a maximum of 3 weeks, 4 training programs were conducted: 20 3 100-m low-intensity endurance training (ENlow, 97% IAT), 5 × 400-m high-intensity endurance training (ENhigh, 101% IAT), 5 × 200 m (IT1, 105% IAT), and 10 3 100 m (IT2, 108% IAT) intensive interval training. Blood lactate concentrations (bLa) were determined during each training session. The results are given as median (25th and 75th percentiles). During ENlow and ENhigh, the mean bLas were 1.8 mmol.L-1 (1.3/3.0 mmol.L-1) and 4.4 mmol.L-1 (3.9/ 6.4 mmol.L-1). The bLas were higher during both IT programs: IT1, 6.3 mmol.L-1 (5.6/7.2 mmol.L-1); IT2, 5.8 mmol.L-1 (5.0/ 6.5 mmol.L -1). The bLas of most individuals were close to the median values (62.4 mmol.L-1). However, in each of the training programs, some subjects showed bLa values that were clearly above (3-7 mmol.L-1 higher). In particular, SDSs reached higher bLas at the same intensity compared with LDSs. It is concluded that intensity prescriptions by means of IAT seem to elicit an expected metabolic response in approximately 85% of swim training sessions. The observed average bLa is in the range of those recommended in the scientific literature.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3304-3311
    Number of pages8
    JournalJournal of Strength and Conditioning Research
    Volume26
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2012

    Keywords

    • Competitive swimming
    • Lactate threshold
    • Metabolism
    • Training recommendations

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Intensity control in swim training bymeans of the individual anaerobic threshold'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this