The comparison of peak oxygen uptake between swim-bench exercise and arm stroke

Abstract

To compare maximal cardio-respiratory stress between swim-bench exercise (SB) and arm stroke (AS), peak oxygen uptake (VO_{2 peak}) was measured in six trained swimmers. The SB was performed at stroke frequency of 50 · min⁻¹. Oxygen uptake (VO₂) was measured during exercise at 3-min constant exercise intensities in SB and at 4-min constant water flow rates in AS. We measured a steady-state VO₂ within 3 or 4 min after the beginning of each exercise. The exercise intensity or the water flow rate was increased by 14.7 W or by 0.05 m · s⁻¹, respectively, until a levelling-off of VO₂ was observed. The VO₂ was measured by the Douglas bag method. Heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentration ([1a⁻]_b) were determined at the exercise intensity and the water flow rate at which VO_{2 peak} was obtained. At submaximal levels, VO₂ increased in proportion to exercise intensity for SB and to the water flow rate for AS. A levelling-off of VO₂ was observed in all subjects for both kinds of exercise. The VO₂ during SB [2.13 (SD 0.25)1 · min⁻¹] was significantly lower than that during AS [2.72 (SD 0.39)1 · min⁻¹] and corresponded to 78.9 (SD 7.0)% of AS VO_{2 peak}. Maximal HR during SB was also significantly lower than that during AS. No significant differences between SB and AS were found for either pulmonary ventilation or [1a⁻]_b. The peak exercise duration in SB [2.4 (SD 0.5) min] was significantly shorter than that in As [3.6 (SD 0.5) min]. These results would suggest that even though both kinds of exercise use the muscles of the upper body, active muscle groups involved during SB are different and/or smaller, and maximal stress on the cardio-respiratory system is lower when compared to AS.