Key result
Energy cost during short and middle distance swimming was significantly higher for young men than women and was determined by lean mass in the trunk and limbs.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to analyze sex-specific responses of energy cost in swimming during supramaximal velocity over short and middle distances, and to determine whether body composition accounts for expected differences.
Does energy cost in short and middle distance swimming differ between young male and female swimmers?
Cross-Sectional (n=26)
Does energy cost in short and middle distance swimming differ between young male and female swimmers?
Absolute Event Rate: 1.8% vs 1.3%
p-value: p=<0.01
The energy cost of swimming is higher in young men than women across short and middle distances, which is strongly correlated with regional lean mass differences.
Sex-specific energy costs in youth swimming are lean-mass driven; hypothesis-generating for training implications pending larger validation.
This study assessed the energy cost in swimming (C) during short and middle distances to analyze the sex-specific responses of C during supramaximal velocity and whether body composition account to the expected differences. Twenty-six swimmers (13 men and 13 women: 16.7 ± 1.9 vs. 15.5 ± 2.8 years old and 70.8 ± 10.6 vs. 55.9 ± 7.0 kg of weight) performed maximal front crawl swimming trials in 50, 100, and 200 m. The oxygen uptake ( V˙ O2) was analyzed along with the tests (and post-exercise) through a portable gas analyser connected to a respiratory snorkel. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise (at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th min) to determine blood lactate concentration [La–]. The lean mass of the trunk (LMTrunk), upper limb (LMUL), and lower limb (LMLL) was assessed using dual X-ray energy absorptiometry. Anaerobic energy demand was calculated from the phosphagen and glycolytic components, with the first corresponding to the fast component of the V˙ O2 bi-exponential recovery phase and the second from the 2.72 ml × kg–1 equivalent for each 1.0 mmol × L–1 [La–] variation above the baseline value. The aerobic demand was obtained from the integral value of the V˙ O2 vs. swimming time curve. The C was estimated by the rate between total energy releasing (in Joules) and swimming velocity. The sex effect on C for each swimming trial was verified by the two-way ANOVA (Bonferroni post hoc test) and the relationships between LMTrunk, LMUL, and LMLL to C were tested by Pearson coefficient. The C was higher for men than women in 50 (1.8 ± 0.3 vs. 1.3 ± 0.3 kJ × m–1), 100 (1.4 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2 kJ × m–1), and 200 m (1.0 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1 kJ × m–1) with p < 0.01 for all comparisons. In addition, C differed between distances for each sex (p < 0.01). The regional LMTrunk (26.5 ± 3.6 vs. 20.1 ± 2.6 kg), LMUL (6.8 ± 1.0 vs. 4.3 ± 0.8 kg), and LMLL (20.4 ± 2.6 vs. 13.6 ± 2.5 kg) for men vs. women were significantly correlated to C in 50 (R2adj = 0.73), 100 (R2adj = 0.61), and 200 m (R2adj = 0.60, p < 0.01). Therefore, the increase in C with distance is higher for men than women and is determined by the lean mass in trunk and upper and lower limbs independent of the differences in body composition between sexes.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Massini et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young swimmers (n=26). Male sex vs. Female sex was evaluated on Energy cost (C) in 50m swimming (kJ/m) (p=<0.01). Energy cost during short and middle distance swimming was significantly higher for young men than women and was determined by lean mass in the trunk and limbs.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: