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Effect of in- versus out-of-water recovery on repeated swimming sprint performance

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 108, pages 321–327 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of passive in- (IN) versus out-of-(OUT) water recovery on performance during repeated maximal sprint swimming. Nine well-trained male swimmers (21 ± 3.5 years) performed six repeated maximal 50-m sprints (RS), departing every 2 min, interspersed with either IN or OUT recovery. Best (RSb) and mean (RSm) RS times, percentage speed decrement (%Dec) and between-sprint heart rate recovery (HRR80s) were calculated for both conditions. Blood lactate was measured after the third ([La]b S3) and sixth sprints (post [La]b). Rating of perceived recovery level (REC) and exertion (RPE) were collected before and after each sprint. Repeated sprint performance was significantly lower in the OUT condition (i.e., for RSm, P = 0.02, +1.3%, 90% CI −0.7, 3.2%). OUT was also associated with poorer HRR80s (P < 0.001, −23%, 90% CI −34, −10%) and higher [La]b S3 (P < 0.01, +13%, 90% CI −1, 29%). Post [La]b, however, was similar (P = 0.44, +1%, 90% CI −7, 10%). RPE and REC were not significantly different between the two conditions (all P > 0.43). To conclude, present results confirm the beneficial effect of the IN condition on repeated swim sprint performance, but also suggest that the OUT recovery modality could be an effective training practice for eliciting a low intramuscular energy status.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the swimmers for their enthusiastic participation, Jonathan Parouty and Pierre Ufland for their help in data collection, as well as Will Hopkins and Pitre Bourdon for their help during the revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory, EA 3300, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Picardie, Jules Verne, 80025, Amiens, France

    Martin Buchheit, Hani Al Haddad, Arnaud Chivot, Pierre Marie Leprêtre & Said Ahmaidi

  2. Sport Development and Analysis, Myorobie Association, Montvalezan, France

    Martin Buchheit & Hani Al Haddad

  3. School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

    Paul B. Laursen

  4. New Zealand Academy of Sport North Island, Auckland, New Zealand

    Paul B. Laursen

  5. Division of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Paul B. Laursen

Authors
  1. Martin Buchheit
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  2. Hani Al Haddad
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  3. Arnaud Chivot
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  4. Pierre Marie Leprêtre
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  5. Said Ahmaidi
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  6. Paul B. Laursen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Buchheit.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Buchheit, M., Al Haddad, H., Chivot, A. et al. Effect of in- versus out-of-water recovery on repeated swimming sprint performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 108, 321–327 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1212-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1212-5

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