We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The determinants of performance in master swimmers: a cross-sectional study on the age-related changes in propelling efficiency, hydrodynamic position and energy cost of front crawl.
- Authors
Zamparo, P.; Dall'Ora, A.; Toneatto, A.; Cortesi, M.; Gatta, G.
- Abstract
The decrease in swimming performance ( v) that occurs with age is a not only consequence of the physiological decrease in maximal metabolic power ( $${\dot{E}}_{\it max}$$) but can also be expected to depend on an increase in the energy cost of swimming ( C) $${\nu}_{\rm max} = {\dot {E}}_{\rm max}/C.$$ In turn, for a given speed and stroke C = W / (ηη) where W is hydrodynamic resistance, η is propelling efficiency and η is overall efficiency. The aim of this study was to measure C in 47 male masters (31-85 years old) swimming the front crawl at sub-maximal, aerobic, speeds. During the experiments propelling efficiency and projected frontal area ( A, an index of W) were also determined by kinematic analysis. 'Elder' masters (60-80 years) swam at a significantly slower pace (0.65 vs. 0.91 m s), with a lower η (0.23 vs. 0.31) and a larger A (0.39 vs. 0.23 m) than 'younger' masters (30-60 years). No significant differences in C (1.45 kJ m, on the average) were observed as a function of age or speed, but C values were significantly higher than those assessed in young elite swimmers at the very same speeds; the difference increasing with age with a rate of 0.75 % per year. With the due considerations (in this study the observed changes in η, A and C can be either attributed to changes in speed or age) these data confirm the hypothesis that an increase in C contributes to the decrease in swimming performance that occurs with age.
- Subjects
SWIMMING; CROSS-sectional method; SWIMMERS; CALORIC expenditure; HYDRODYNAMICS in sports; CRAWL stroke (Swimming)
- Publication
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2012, Vol 112, Issue 12, p3949
- ISSN
1439-6319
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00421-012-2376-y