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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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COMBINED STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE TRAINING IN COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS |
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Stian Aspenes1  ,
Per-Ludvik Kjendlie2, Jan Hoff1 and Jan Helgerud1 |
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1Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, and 2Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2009) 8, 357 - 365 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| A combined intervention of strength and endurance training is
common practice in elite swimming training, but the scientific evidence
is scarce. The influences between strength and endurance training have been
investigated in other sports but the findings are scattered. Some state
the interventions are negative to each other, some state there is no negative
relationship and some find bisected and supplementary benefits from the
combination when training is applied appropriately. The aim of this study
was to investigate the impact of a combined intervention among competitive
swimmers. 20 subjects assigned to a training intervention group (n = 11)
or a control group (n = 9) from two different teams completed the study.
Anthropometrical data, tethered swimming force, land strength, performance
in 50m, 100m and 400m, work economy, peak oxygen uptake, stroke length and
stroke rate were investigated in all subjects at pre- and post-test. A combined
intervention of maximal strength and high aerobic intensity interval endurance
training 2 sessions per week over 11 weeks in addition to regular training
were used, while the control group continued regular practice with their
respective teams. The intervention group improved land strength, tethered
swimming force and 400m freestyle performance more than the control group.
The improvement of the 400m was correlated with the improvement of tethered
swimming force in the female part of the intervention group. No change occurred
in stroke length, stroke rate, performance in 50m or 100m, swimming economy
or peak oxygen uptake during swimming. Two weekly dry-land strength training
sessions for 11 weeks increase tethered swimming force in competitive swimmers.
This increment further improves middle distance swimming performance. 2
weekly sessions of high- intensity interval training does not improve peak
oxygen uptake compared with other competitive swimmers.
Key words: Oxygen consumption, muscle strength, metabolic efficiency. |
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