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Pacing accuracy during an incremental step test in adolescent swimmers

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posted on 2023-07-26, 13:45 authored by Adrian Scruton, James Baker, Justin D. Roberts, Itay Basevitch, Viviane Merzbach, Dan Gordon
To assess pacing accuracy in a group of adolescent swimmers during an incremental step test. Fifteen well-trained swimmers (age 15±1.5 years; height 170.2±8.8 cm; mass 60.2±6.6 kg), completed two 7×200 m tests, separated by ~72 hours. They swam to a predetermined incrementally increasing pace per step and were instructed to swim at even pace. Upon completion of each step, rating of perceived exertion, heart rate and blood lactate were recorded. Significant differences observed for both trials between actual and predicted swim time (P<0.05). Significant differences also observed between the first and second 100 m of each step in trial 1 for step 1 (P=0.001, effect size [ES] =0.54), step 2 (P=0.0001, ES =0.57), step 4 (P=0.0001, ES =0.53), step 5 (P=0.005, ES =0.65), step 6 (P=0.0001, ES =0.50), and step 7 (P=0.0001, ES =0.70). Similar responses witnessed for trial 2 (P<0.05). Findings suggest that the finite anaerobic capacity was engaged sooner than would normally be anticipated, as a function of an inability to regulate pace. This is proposed to be a consequence of the volume of exposure to the biological and psychological sensations and cognitive developmental status. Given the apparent error in pacing judgment exhibited in this population group, caution should be applied when adopting such tests to monitor training responses with adolescent athletes, and alternate means of modulating pace be investigated.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

2015

Issue number

6

Page range

249-257

Publication title

Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine

ISSN

1179-1543

Publisher

Dove Medical Press

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2016-03-17

Legacy creation date

2018-04-11

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)

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