Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ten days of tapering can improve swimming records and metabolic but not hematological profile in young recreational swimmers

  • Research
  • Published:
Sport Sciences for Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

To investigate the effects of a 10-day tapering on swimming performance, metabolic and hematologic factors, and a 200-m crawl swimming record.

Methods

Eighteen male recreational swimmers (11–17 years) underwent an 8-week vigorous-intensity endurance training (three sessions per week, 90 min per session). Participants’ swimming records were obtained at the end of the training period, and blood samples were drawn. After that, the taper group (TP, n = 12) underwent a 10-day taper program (training volume reduced by 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% in the first four sessions and 70% in the last session), while the control group (CG, n = 12) kept their training load. At the end of the tapering period, a 200-m crawl swimming time was recorded, and a blood sample was collected to assess metabolic and hematologic factors.

Results

200-m swimming record improvement was higher in TP than in CG (p < 0.05). In addition, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine, urea, uric acid, and lactate dehydrogenase significantly decreased after tapering (p < 0.05). However, hematological factors did not show any significant difference between groups. Furthermore, no significant correlation between swimming records and measured parameters was found.

Conclusion

Our results showed that 10 days of tapering could improve the 200-m swimming record and metabolic but not the hematological profile in young recreational swimmers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available upon reasonable request. Contact author Kayvan Khoramipour.

References

  1. Vachon A et al (2021) Effects of tapering on neuromuscular and metabolic fitness in team sports: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Sport Sci 21(3):300–311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mujika I, Padilla S (2000) Detraining: loss of training-induced physiological and performance adaptations. Part I: short term insufficient training stimulus. Sports Med 30(2):79–87

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. de Arruda TB et al (2021) Effects of an experimental taper period on male and female swimmers. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 61(12):1578–1586

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Myers VR et al (2017) Physiological and psychological adaptations during taper in competitive swimmers. Int J Sports Sci Coach 12(4):481–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Morgan MA, Pfaff DW (2001) Effects of estrogen on activity and fear-related behaviors in mice. Horm Behav 40(4):472–482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Trinity JD et al (2008) Maximal power and performance during a swim taper. Int J Sports Med 29(06):500–506

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Martin DT, Andersen MB (2000) Heart rate-perceived exertion relationship during training and taper. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 40(3):201–208

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Manilal K (2021) Planning for sports ultimate performance. Sports Education Technologies. https://books.google.es/books/about/Planning_for_Sports_Ultimate_Performance.html?id=2z0vEAAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

  9. Egesoy H, Girginer FG. Contemporary approaches to physiological adaptations after taper workouts. https://pjmhsonline.com/2021/july/2198.pdf

  10. Mujika I et al (1998) Hematological responses to training and taper in competitive swimmers: relationships with performance. Arch Physiol Biochem 105(4):379–385

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Costa MJ et al (2015) Physiological adaptations to training in competitive swimming: a systematic review. J Hum Kinet 49:179–194

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Notbohm HL et al (2021) Long-term physical training in adolescent sprint and middle distance swimmers alters the composition of circulating T and NK cells which correlates with soluble ICAM-1 serum concentrations. Eur J Appl Physiol 121(6):1773–1781

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Mougios, V., Exercise biochemistry. 2019: Human Kinetics Publishers.

  14. Yamamoto Y, Mutoh Y, Miyashita M (1988) Hematological and biochemical indices during the tapering period of competitive swimmers. In: Ungerechts BE, Wilke K, Reischle K (eds) Swimming science V, vol 18. Human Kinetics Books, Champaign, pp 243–249

    Google Scholar 

  15. Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS (1972) Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem 18(6):499–502

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Papoti M et al (2007) Effects of taper on swimming force and swimmer performance after an experimental ten-week training program. J Strength Cond Res 21(2):538–542

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Garcia-Pallares J et al (2010) Physiological effects of tapering and detraining in world-class kayakers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 42(6):1209–1214

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Faude O et al (2008) Volume vs. intensity in the training of competitive swimmers. Int J Sports Med 29(11):906–912

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hellard P et al (2013) Identifying optimal overload and taper in elite swimmers over time. J Sports Sci Med 12(4):668–678

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Olson K et al (2018) Tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion as perceived by recreational marathon runners. Qual Health Res 28(13):1997–2010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Padilhas OP et al (2017) Physiological restoration and improvement in physical performance in response to a taper period in young swimmers. J Exerc Physiol Online 20(4):36–45

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mujika I et al (2000) Physiological responses to a 6-d taper in middle-distance runners: influence of training intensity and volume. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32(2):511–517

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Costa P et al (2019) A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of undulatory, staggered, and linear load manipulations in aerobic training on oxygen supply, muscle injury, and metabolism in male recreational runners. Sports Med Open 5(1):32

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Child RB, Wilkinson DM, Fallowfield JL (2000) Effects of a training taper on tissue damage indices, serum anti-oxidant capacity and half-marathon running performance. Int J Sports Med 21(5):325–331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Shepley B et al (1992) Physiological effects of tapering in highly trained athletes. J Appl Physiol (1985) 72(2):706–711

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Margaritis I et al (2003) Antioxidant supplementation and tapering exercise improve exercise-induced antioxidant response. J Am Coll Nutr 22(2):147–156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman university of Medical Sciences for their support. The authors also like to thank Prince Sultan University for their support.

Funding

This research was not externally funded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Kouros Divsalar, Kayvan Khoramipour & Mohammad Reza Afarinesh

  2. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, and Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Kayvan Khoramipour

  3. Department of Exercise Physiology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

    Aref Basereh

  4. Department of Science, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Maritim University of Chabahar, Chabahar, Iran

    Hossein Pirani

  5. Department of Exercise Physiology, Borujerd University, Lorestan, Iran

    Reza Amini

  6. Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Guilan, Iran

    Payam Saidie

  7. Khatam Al-Zambia Hospital, Baft Network, and Health Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Fatemeh Divsalar

  8. Emergency Medicine, Department of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Amin Honarmand

  9. Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Beat Knechtle

  10. Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003, Cáceres, Spain

    Miguel A. López-Gajardo & Hadi Nobari

  11. Sport Sciences and Diagnostics Research Group, GSD-HPE Department, Prince Sultan University, 11586, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Pablo Prieto-González

  12. Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, 56199-11367, Iran

    Hadi Nobari

Authors
  1. Kouros Divsalar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kayvan Khoramipour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aref Basereh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hossein Pirani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Reza Amini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mohammad Reza Afarinesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Payam Saidie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Fatemeh Divsalar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Amin Honarmand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Beat Knechtle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Miguel A. López-Gajardo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Pablo Prieto-González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Hadi Nobari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: KD and KK; methodology: HP, RA, MRA, HN, and FD; data collection: KD; analysis: KD, AB, and AH; writing—original draft preparation: KK, AB, HP, PS, HN, and BK; writing—review and editing: MALG, PP-G, KK, and HN. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kayvan Khoramipour or Hadi Nobari.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Consent for publication

Informed consent was obtained from all study participants.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This research was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. It was also approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran (Ethical approval code 910087). All participants provided written informed consent to participate in the study voluntarily.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Divsalar, K., Khoramipour, K., Basereh, A. et al. Ten days of tapering can improve swimming records and metabolic but not hematological profile in young recreational swimmers. Sport Sci Health (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-023-01133-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-023-01133-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation