Resumen de Reliability and Validity of a Pool-Based Maximal Oxygen Uptake Test to Examine High-Intensity Short-Duration Freestyle Swimming Performance
Elizabeth F. Nagle, Takashi Nagai, Anne Z. Beethe, Mita T. Lovalekar, Jacquelyn N. Zera, Christopher Connaboy, John P. Abt, Kimberly Beals, Bradley C. Nindl, Robert J. Robertson, Scott M. Lephart
A modality-specific swimming protocol to assess maximal oxygen uptake (VO2maxsw) is essential to accurately prescribe and monitor swimming conditioning programs. Consequently, there is a need for a reliable and valid graded intensity swimming pool test to accurately assess VO2maxsw using indirect calorimetry. The purpose of this study was to assess (a) reliability of an intensity self-regulated swimming pool test of VO2maxsw and (b) validity of a VO2maxsw test using performance swim (PS) time as the criterion. Twenty-nine men (n = 15) and women (n = 14) (age, 23 +/- 6.4 years; body mass index, 23.5 +/- 3.0 kg[middle dot]m-2) performed 2 swimming pool VO2maxsw trials (VO2maxsw A and VO2maxsw B), and 2 PS tests (45.7 m [31.20 +/- 4.5 seconds] and 182 m [159.2 +/- 25.5 seconds]). For test-retest reliability (trials A vs. B), strong correlations (p < 0.05) were found for VO2maxsw (ml[middle dot]kg-1[middle dot]min-1) (r = 0.899), O2 pulse (ml O2[middle dot]beat-1) (r = 0.833), and maximum expired ventilatory volume (L[middle dot]min-1) (r = 0.785). For performance validity, moderately strong correlations (p < 0.05) were found between VO2maxsw A and 45.7-m (r = -0.543) and 182-m (r = -0.486) swim times. The self-regulated graded intensity swimming pool protocol examined presently is a reliable and valid test of VO2maxsw. Studies should consider the suitability of a VO2maxsw test for military personnel, clinical populations, and injured athletes.
