Time limit at the minimum velocity of VO2max and intracyclic variation of the velocity of the centre of mass

Abstract

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.