Lactate Production and Clearance During High Intensity Swimming Test in Elite Water-Polo Players
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: The aims of this study were to measure blood lactate levels before and after a high-intensity sprint swimming test and to estimate lactate production capacity and clearance. Twelve male water-polo players, who belonged to the Japanese National Water-Polo Team (24.6 ± 3.8 years of age), volunteered for this study. Players performed a 50-m × 3 times × 3 sets of maximum sprint using a normal diving start at 1-min intervals and with a 20-min rest period between sets. Capillary blood samples were drawn from the fingertips of the subjects 7 times; i.e., before and after each trial set as well as 20 min after finishing the third trial set. Mean swimming time showed little change as the trial sets proceeded. In con-trast, variability in swimming times was significantly different between the first and the second sets as well as the first and the third sets (first > second, first > third, p < 0.001). Lactate production was highest after the first set, after which it decreased significantly during the second set and was maintained through the third set. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between the first and the second sets as well as the first and the third sets. In contrast, lactate clearance showed little change. No significant correlation was found between swimming time and lactate values. The variability in swimming time during the second and the third sets showed a positive correlation with blood lactate levels, a negative correlation to lactate production during the second set, and a negative correlation to lactate clearance during the third set. Our results suggest that these international players could improve their glycolytic capacity, particularly lactate clearance. Thus, players lacking lactate clearance capacity should reconsider their training intensity.Key words: water polo, lactic acid, glycolytic capacity, swimming performance
Authors: Hideki Takagi, Yosuke Murase, Takashisa Minami
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2401239877