Physiological Responses During High-Intensity Interval Training in Young Swimmers
Question
Do 100 m and 200 m swimming interval protocols at maximal aerobic velocity produce different temporal, perceptual, oxygen-uptake, lactate, and oxygen-deficit responses in young swimmers?
Summary
Twelve well-trained young swimmers completed two swimming interval protocols at maximal aerobic velocity: repeated 100 m bouts with 15 s rest and repeated 200 m bouts with 30 s rest. Both reached similar near-maximal oxygen uptake, lactate, oxygen-deficit, distance, and time-to-exhaustion responses, but the first 800 m of 100 m repeats felt easier than 200 m repeats.
Methodology
- 12 well-trained young competitive swimmers.
- 12 participants.
- Front crawl swimming.
- Work intervals: 100 m.
- Recovery: 15 s rest.
- Intensity: 100% MAV; actual 99.7 +/- 2.6% MAV.
- 1034.8 +/- 462.8 s time limit for full IT100.
- One acute session.
- Acute randomized-order comparison.
- Randomized-order within-subject acute exercise physiology comparison
- Peak VO2, Lactate, Perceived exertion, and Time near VO2peak were tracked.
Outcomes
Peak VO2
Peak VO2 was similar between 100 m and 200 m protocols and not different from incremental VO2peak.
IT8x100 57.3 +/- 4.9 vs IT4x200 57.2 +/- 4.6 ml/kg/min, p=0.98; comparison with VO2peak p=0.37.
RPE
The 100 m protocol felt easier than the 200 m protocol over the first 800 m, but full-protocol RPE did not differ.
IT8x100 7.62 +/- 2.0 vs IT4x200 9.5 +/- 0.7, p=0.012; full IT100 vs IT200 p=0.55.
Lactate
Peak lactate did not significantly differ between full protocols.
IT100 7.9 +/- 3.4 vs IT200 8.7 +/- 1.5 mmol/L, p=0.15.
Time near VO2peak
Time above VT2, 90%, and 95% VO2peak did not differ between interval formats.
IT8x100 vs IT4x200: t@VT2 p=0.72, t@90 p=0.63, t@95 p=1.00; IT100 vs IT200: p=0.22, p=0.29, p=0.16.
Insights
- For trained swimmers, 100 m repeats with 15 s rest may deliver a similar aerobic stimulus to 200 m repeats with 30 s rest while feeling easier early in the set.
- Interval length can be selected by perceived difficulty even when physiological targets are similar.
Limitations
- Small sample
- Male and female swimmers combined
- Snorkel and open turns may constrain normal free swimming
- Only 100% MAV was tested
- Acute physiology study only
Safety
- No adverse events or injuries were reported.
- Participants were supervised, familiarized with equipment, and sessions were separated by at least 48 h.