Conference Presentation Set To Inspire Faster Swim Times
20 September 2012
Tim Lawrenson carrying out the research with Derventio eXcel swimmers
We hope that some of the findings we share will go on to shape the swim-down strategies of many teams and swimmers, and ultimately help maximise their race performances.
”Dr Pete Brown
Pioneering University of Derby research that has discovered the optimum recovery strategy for swimmers' subsequent race performances will be presented at a prestigious national conference.
The talk on swim-down recovery strategies will be given at the British Swimming Coaches Association (BSCA) annual conference on September 22, and will be followed by a swimming pool demonstration of their techniques to delegates.
Lecturer in Exercise Physiology, Dr Peter Brown, along with Masters student Tim Lawrenson and 11 BSc (Hons) Sport Science degree students carried out detailed research with Derby's Derventio eXcel elite swimming club into how different swim-down recovery strategies (a swim completed immediately following training or racing) affected how quickly a swimmer completed their next race.
The team discovered that personalised swim-downs at the intensity of a swimmer's individual 'lactate threshold' optimised their recovery in the shortest time.
Dr Brown, Tim Lawrenson and Derventio eXcel swimming coach Andi Manley will present this research at the BSCA conference in Birmingham which will also feature talks from the head coach at British Swimming's British Gas Intensive Training Centre, David McNulty who coached Team GB's Michael Jamieson to Olympic silver and coach James Gibson MBE, on the sprint development of 50m Olympic Gold Medal winner Florent Manadou.
Dr Brown said: "We were delighted to be invited to present our research to the British Swimming Coaches Association. The other presenters and delegates are very influential in the world of swimming. We hope that some of the findings we share will go on to shape the swim-down strategies of many teams and swimmers, and ultimately help maximise their race performances."
By carrying out the study the research team sought to compare three different swim-down recovery strategies to see which one was the most effective in maintaining or improving subsequent swim times.
Dr Brown explained: "During a normal training session or competition the swimmers typically train at a high intensity for one to two hours. During this anaerobic activity a substance called lactate begins to build up in the athlete's muscles. If this build-up of lactate isn't removed from the body through some subsequent slower, aerobic exercise, then it can contribute to feelings of heavy legs and arms, and can slow down the production of energy in the muscle leading to muscle fatigue. This ultimately impairs performance in subsequent bouts of exercise.
"Swimmers normally do a swim-down to remove this accumulation of lactate."
The research team calculated a 'lactate threshold' for each of the swimmers in the study, a unique swim-down speed at which point their lactate removal exceeds lactate production within their muscles. They compared this to two traditional swim-down techniques and discovered that those athletes who did the swim-down at the lactate threshold intensity optimised their recovery in the shortest time which improved subsequent race performances.
"The outcome of our findings has developed bespoke recovery strategies for each individual swimmer at Derventio eXcel which coach Andi Manley is delighted about," added Dr Brown.
The work was completed as part of the University of Derby sport's Team Derby Performance. For more information visit website www.teamderby.com
