Abstract
International Journal of Exercise Science 9(5): 545-553, 2016. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the 3-min all-out exercise test (3MT) could be applied to create an off-season high intensity, interval training (HIIT) program to improve performance, specifically critical velocity (CV), in the sport of swimming. We tested a group of competitive female swimmers (age = 19 ± 1 yrs, height = 169 ± 7 cm, body mass = 69 ± 9 kg) to determine their swimming CV and finite energy capacity >CV (D’), and created a four week (2 d∙wk-1) personalized interval training program. Participants were divided in to two groups, a 150yd interval group (n =11) and a 250yd interval group (n =6). Each group completed a series of intervals designed to deplete a given percentage of D’ at velocities exceeding CV. A 3MT following the training period was administered to assess for any changes in CV, D’, average velocity during the first 150s of the test (V150s) and total distance traveled (D). Both groups improved their CV (+0.04 m∙s-1), V150s (+0.03 m∙s-1) and D (+8.64 m) (p < 0.05), however, significant interactions for D’ between groups was not observed (p > 0.05). We conclude that HIIT prescriptions based on a 3MT can improve swim performance over a four-week period. Future research on the fidelity of measuring CV and D’ using a swimming 3MT is needed to help aid practitioners in interpreting true training adaptations.
Recommended Citation
Courtright, Samuel P.; Williams, Jade L.; Clark, Ida E.; Pettitt, Robert W.; and Dicks, Nathan D.
(2016)
"Monitoring interval-training responses for swimming using the 3-min all-out exercise test.,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 9
:
Iss.
5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol9/iss5/1