The effects of anaerobic swim ergometer training on sprint performance in adolescent swimmers

Abstract

The effects of anaerobic training using a swim ergometer on sprint swimming performance have not been investigated in competitive adolescent swimmers. The purpose of this study was to compare 4-weeks of sprint interval training (SIT) with a similar ergometer training intervention on associated anaerobic performances. Fourteen competitive adolescent swimmers performed two pre and post intervention tests: 1) a 6 & 30 second maximal swim ergometer test, and 2) a maximal anaerobic lactate test (MANLT), (4 x 50 m short-course maximal swims with 10 second rest intervals). The results of this study demonstrated there was a significant improvement in 1) speed of the 4th 50m sprint, 2) mean power in 6 & 30-second maximal ergometer tests, and 3) 50m freestyle performance for both intervention groups after 4 weeks of SIT training respectively. As such, sprint ability may be improved through multiple modalities (pool and dryland) to elicit a positive training response.