Cardoso C, Fernandes R, Magalhães J, Santos P, Colaço P, Soares S, Carmo C, Barbosa T e Vilas-Boas JP (2002). Comparasion of a continuous and intermitent triangular protocol for direct VO2max assessment in swimming. IXth World Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming. Saint-Etienne.
Aerobic energy seems to be very important for most of the swimming competition distances, especially after the recent recognition of a traditionally left-hand side shift of the bioenergetic spectrum (Gastin, 2001). Besides anaerobic threshold (ANT), the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and the minimum swimming velocity that elicits VO2max (vVO2max), seem to be some of the most important parameters for the swimmer’s aerobic potential evaluation (Holmér, 1972; Bonen et al., 1980; Cazorla and Montpetit, 1983; Monpetit et al., 1983; Billat et al, 1996). Other parameters, such as the time that the swimmer is able to sustain on vVO2max, normally cold time limit (Tlim vVO2max), and swimming economy, should be considered also as very important parameters to characterise the swimmer’s performance capacity.
The evaluation of VO2max, vVO2max, TlimvVO2max, and economy on swimming subjects, requires specific oximetry procedures and protocols. Normally, the first two parameters are evaluated using triangular (progressive) protocols, without resting periods between stages (Billat et al., 1996; Billat et al., 1999). Meanwhile, swimming economy assessment requires both aerobic and anaerobic energy expenditure evaluations (Vilas-Boas & Santos, 1994), if possible at different swimming velocities to allow the computation of an economy curve. To do so, it is necessary to collect not only respiration parameters, but also blood parameters, such lactate concentrations ([La-]), which impose the interruption of the protocol just after each stage. Meanwhile, to our knowledge, it was not yet demonstrated that an intermittent progressive protocol, even with small rest intervals, allow the assessment of the same values of a traditional continuous one.
The purpose of this study was to compare two triangular (progressive) protocols for VO2max and vVO2max determination: one continuous, and one intermittent to allow ear-lobe blood samples collections. We hope that this study brings new insights to improving the methodology procedures used for specific evaluation of the performance determinant parameters of swimmers.