Effects of gender on stroke rates, critical speed and velocity of a 30-min swim in young swimmers.

• Grant number: 07/04765-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: November 01, 2007
• End date: April 30, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Camila Coelho Greco
• Grantee: Camila Coelho Greco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Our objective was to analyze the effect of gender on the relationship between stroke rates corresponding to critical speed (SRCS) and maximal speed of 30 min (SRS30) in young swimmers. Twenty two males (GM1) (Age = 15.4+2.1 yr., Body mass = 63.7+12.9 kg, Stature = 1.73+0.09 m) and fourteen female (GF) swimmers (Age = 15.1+1.6 yr., Body mass = 58.3+8.8 kg, Stature = 1.65+0.06 m) were studied. A subset of males (GM2) was matched to the GF by their velocity for a 30 min swim (S30). The CS was determined through the slope of the linear regression line between the distances (200 and 400 m) and participant’s respective times. CS was significantly higher than S30 in males (GM1 - 1.25 and 1.16 and GM2 - 1.21 and 1.12 m.s-1) and females (GF - 1.15 and 1.11 m.s-1). There was no significant difference between SRCS and SRS30 in males (GM1 - 34.16 and 32.32 and GM2 - 34.67 and 32.46 cycle.s-1, respectively) and females (GF - 34.18 and 33.67 cycle.s-1, respectively). There was a significant correlation between CS and S30 (GM1 - r=0.89, GF - r=0.94 and GM2 - r=0.90) and between SRCS and SRS30 (GM1 - r=0.89, GF - r=0.80 and GM2 - r=0.88). Thus, the relationship between SRCS and SRS30 is not influenced by gender, in swimmers with similar and different aerobic capacity levels. (AU)