ORIGINAL PAPER
Effects of age and gender in physiological responses, mechanics and performance of master swimmers
1
Department of Aquatics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University
of Athens, Athens, Greece
2
Department of Theory and Technology of Sports Training Science Analysis and Diagnosis in Sport, Faculty of Sports
and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Submission date: 2018-08-28
Acceptance date: 2018-10-23
Publication date: 2019-01-30
Hum Mov. 2019;20(1):17-23
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to analyse the effects of age and gender in physiological responses, mechanics (stroke frequency, stroke length, stroke index), and performance time of master swimmers.
Methods:
Overall, 34 male and 25 female master swimmers were divided into 2 age categories: (a) 30–39 years, (b) 40–49 years, and completed a 100-m freestyle swimming test with maximum intensity. Stroke mechanics and performance time were measured during the effort. Blood lactate concentration was determined after the test in the 3rd, 5th, and 10th minutes of passive recovery.
Results:
Two-way ANOVA showed no interaction between gender and age category for any examined variable (p > 0.05). Maximum blood lactate was maintained in both genders despite ageing (p > 0.05) and was lower for females compared with males (p < 0.001). Higher values were observed for stroke frequency, stroke length, and stroke index for males (p < 0.05). For both genders, the 30–39 years category had significantly higher values for stroke length (p = 0.020) and lower for stroke frequency (p = 0.014), indicating that these swimmers can produce stronger strokes than those in the 40–49 years category. Performance time values were significantly lower for males compared with females (p < 0.001), but did not change with ageing (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Despite ageing, swimmers are able to maintain all examined variables through a structured swimming training but with a possible decrease in stroke mechanics, independent of gender. Better values were observed for males compared with females probably owing to a greater muscle mass in the former.
The purpose of the study was to analyse the effects of age and gender in physiological responses, mechanics (stroke frequency, stroke length, stroke index), and performance time of master swimmers.
Methods:
Overall, 34 male and 25 female master swimmers were divided into 2 age categories: (a) 30–39 years, (b) 40–49 years, and completed a 100-m freestyle swimming test with maximum intensity. Stroke mechanics and performance time were measured during the effort. Blood lactate concentration was determined after the test in the 3rd, 5th, and 10th minutes of passive recovery.
Results:
Two-way ANOVA showed no interaction between gender and age category for any examined variable (p > 0.05). Maximum blood lactate was maintained in both genders despite ageing (p > 0.05) and was lower for females compared with males (p < 0.001). Higher values were observed for stroke frequency, stroke length, and stroke index for males (p < 0.05). For both genders, the 30–39 years category had significantly higher values for stroke length (p = 0.020) and lower for stroke frequency (p = 0.014), indicating that these swimmers can produce stronger strokes than those in the 40–49 years category. Performance time values were significantly lower for males compared with females (p < 0.001), but did not change with ageing (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Despite ageing, swimmers are able to maintain all examined variables through a structured swimming training but with a possible decrease in stroke mechanics, independent of gender. Better values were observed for males compared with females probably owing to a greater muscle mass in the former.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1899-1955 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
