Pedro Morais and colleagues at the University of Porto have found that the %VO2 max required to elicit a response to fully train the aerobic system may be above 85%. This is based on a 'ventilatory threshold' at which 'minute ventilation' increases non-linearly indicating that sufficient oxygen for sustained performance cannot be supplied by aerobic means. The authors believe that the ventilatory threshold may be a better indicator of the attainment of the aerobic threshold, and therefore the threshold to provide an effective stimulus for adaptation to the imposed demands, than the lactate threshold frequently used currently. The implication of these results is that swimming training should include more intense sets to train the aerobic capacity, than the 'traditional' sets in which intensity is based on the lactate threshold.

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Morais, P., Cardoso, C., Faria, V., Rocha, S, Machado, L., Fernandes, R., and Vilas-Boas, J.P. (2006). Oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold in swimming. In J.P. Vilas-Boas, F. Alves, A. Marques (eds.) Xth International Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, University of Porto, Porto, June, 2006. pp103-104.

An ongoing question - how much continuous training of moderate intensity and how much intermittent training of a higher intensity should be in a training program? Futoshi Ogita looks at the relative physiological benefits of each resulting from training. He found that both training regimens improved the aerobic energy release in 2-3 minute of supramaximal swimming but only the high intensity intermittent training improved the anaerobic capacity. The study has important implications for the quantity of each type of training that should be used for each distance specialisation.

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Ogita, F. (2006). Energetics in competitive swimming and its application for training. In J.P. Vilas-Boas, F. Alves, A. Marques (eds.) Xth International Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, University of Porto, Porto, June, 2006. pp14-15.

Choosing the most appropriate distance specialisation depends on many factors - some of them anthropometrical, that is, physical shape. The Greeks have always been interested in body shape, in fact the word is Greek in origin, and Vassilis Thanopoulos, Milivoj Dopsaj and Aleksandros Nikolopoulos have maintained a Greek influence in trhe study of anthropometric variables relating to performance in swimming. From a sample of 13 male and 12 female front crawl they found that swimmers with broad shoulders relative to the depth of their chest and a small percentage of fat attain fast critical speeds. Among the females there was a positive relationship between muscle mass and critical speed and a negative relationship between arm length and critical speed. It was suggested that relatively short arms among females enabled greater speed in sprints due to the ability to achieve high stroke frequencies. Although the sample was quite small for an anthropometrical study it provides 'food for thought' with respect to talent identification for front crawl sprinting.

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Thanopoulos, V., Dopsaj, M. and Nikolopoulos, A. (2006). The relationship of anthropomorphological characteristics of crawl sprint swimmers of both genders with critical speed at 50 and 100m. In J.P. Vilas-Boas, F. Alves, A. Marques (eds.) Xth International Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, University of Porto, Porto, June, 2006. pp107-109.

While some swimmers fall naturally into an optimal breathing pattern that suits their technique and physiological characteristics many coaches and swimmers do not know whether it is better, for example, to breathe every stroke or every two or even three strokes. A study by Tommy Pedersen and Per-Ludvik Kjendlie reveals that the more one has to breathe, the less the speed. They conclude that breath control should be emphasised in training and competitions so that breathing is minimised in sprint races. Of course, the optimal breathing pattern for 100m and longer races depends on physiological considerations on an individual basis.

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Pedersen, T., Kjendlie, P. (2006). The effect of the breathing action on velocity in front crawl sprinting. In J.P.Vilas-Boas, F. Alves, A. Marques (eds.)Xth International Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, University of Porto, Porto, June, 2006. pp75-77.