Bioenergetics Applied to Swimming: An Ecological Method to Monitor and Prescribe Training

Systematic assessments of athletes’ physiological conditions are central to monitor and prescribe swimming training according to the needs and goals. Thus, it is possible to understand the current physiological state and follow its development in order to assess the effects of training, to identify the swimmer's skills profile and to predict athletic performance (Vilas-Boas & Lamares 1997). Specifically regarding swimmers and their skills, aerobic capacity is a major determinant of these athletes performance, and it is defined as the ability to maintain a high percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) for a long period of time (DI PRAMPERO et al., 2011). Furthermore, the endurance is influenced by VO2max, swimming economy (or energy cost, defined as the total energy expenditure required to move the body to a certain distance in a determined velocity) and anaerobic capacity (Dekerle & Pelayo 2011). In a group of swimmers with similar values of swimming economy and anaerobic capacity, those with greater aerobic potential (VO2max and aerobic capacity) will be faster at distances of 400 m and longer. Four hundred meters, when swimming in front crawl, is usually suggested as a trial in which VO2max is reached (Dekerle & Pelayo 2011). Thus, the longer events (800 m, 1500 m and open water marathon), which are covered primarily with energy from aerobic metabolism, are covered in a fraction of the VO2max. The intensity will be lower the longer is the distance, reaching 60-65% of VO2max on the 25 km open water marathon (Zamparo et al. 2005). In this sense, one of the objectives of the swimming training is to increase the aerobic capacity. Thus, a valid and reliable measure of the swimmer aerobic profile is essential to verify the benefits that the training program is or is not providing, and, also, to set training intensities according to the physiological profile of the athlete. Dekerle & Pelayo (2011) emphasize that the methodology used for this purpose cannot be considered valid unless it is reliable. Whenever possible, the degree of reliability should be assessed. The origin of the variability measurement (human error, equipment error, biological variation, or motivational factors when performing the test) needs to be taken into account. Thus, the aim of this chapter is to present a careful review of the bioenergetics contribution on the physiological assessment of the swimmer, especially related to aerobic profile.