Research article - (2009)08, 17 - 23
Can the be used to estimate critical velocity in young competitive swimmers?
Aldo M. Costa1,2, António J. Silva2,3, Hugo Louro2,4, Victor M. Reis2,3, Nuno D. Garrido2,3, Mário C. Marques1,2, Daniel A. Marinho1,2,
1University of Beira Interior, Department of Sport Sciences. Covilhã, Portugal
2Centre of Research in Sports, Health and Human Development. Vila Real, Portugal
3University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Department of Sport Sciences. Vila Real, Portugal
4Sports Science Institute of Rio Maior. Rio Maior, Portugal.

Daniel A. Marinho
✉ Universidade da Beira Interior, Departamento de Ciências do Desporto, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama. 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Email: dmarinho@ubi.pt
Received: 04-09-2008 -- Accepted: 30-10-2008
Published (online): 01-03-2009
ABSTRACT

The aims of the present study were to assess critical velocity using the swimmer curriculum in front crawl events and to compare critical velocity to the velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol·l-1 of blood lactate concentration and to the velocity of a 30 min test. The sample included 24 high level male swimmers ranged between 14 and 16 years old. For each subject the critical velocity, the velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol·l-1 of blood lactate concentration and the mean velocity of a 30 min test were determined. The critical velocity was also estimated by considering the best performance of a swimmer over several distances based on the swimmer curriculum. Critical velocity including 100, 200 and 400 m events was not different from the velocity of 4 mmol·l-1 of blood lactate concentration. Critical velocity including all the swimmer events was not different from the velocity of a 30 min test. The assessment of critical velocity based upon the swimmer curriculum would therefore seem to be a good approach to determine the aerobic ability of a swimmer. The selection of the events to be included in critical velocity assessment must be a main concern in the evaluation of the swimmer.
Key words: Training, evaluation, aerobic ability, critical power.

Key Points
  • Critical velocity using 100, 200 and 400 m events was not different from the velocity of 4 mmol·l of blood lactate concentration.
  • Critical velocity using all the swimmer events was not different from the velocity of a 30 min test.
  • The assessment of critical velocity based upon the swimmer seemed to be a good approach to determine the aerobic capacity of a swimmer.
  • The decision on the events to be analysed must be a main concern in the evaluation of the swimmer critical velocity.








Back		 |
Full Text		 |
PDF		 |
Share

Email link to this article

Can the be used to estimate critical velocity in young competitive swimmers?
Aldo M. Costa, António J. Silva, Hugo Louro, Victor M. Reis, Nuno D. Garrido, Mário C. Marques, Daniel A. Marinho
2009(08), 17 - 23.
DOI: https://doi.org/