The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship
between time limit at the minimum velocity that elicits maximal
oxygen consumption (TLim-vVO2max) and intra-cyclic variations
of the velocity of the centre of mass (dv) in the four
competitive swimming techniques. Twelve elite male swimmers
SWIMMING BIOENERGETICS
Rev Port Cien Desp 190 6(Supl.2) 185–197
swam their own best technique until exhaustion at their previously
determined v O2max to assess TLim-v O2max. The test
was videotaped in the sagittal plan and the APAS software was
used to evaluate the horizontal velocity of the centre of mass
(Vcm) and its intra-cyclic variation (dv) per swimming technique.
Results pointed out that the strokes that presented
higher intra-cyclic variations also presented larger values of
TLim. Intra-cyclic speed fluctuations (dv) decreased during the
TLim test in the four strokes studied, probably due to fatigue.
Key words: VO2, intra-cyclic velocity variations, time limit, centre
of mass.
