The Influence of Training Load on Performance and Psychological Variables in Female Collegiate Swimmers

Overtraining has become a very important topic in athletics over the past few decades. Resulting from an imbalance between training stress and recovery, the manifestation of overtraining is unique to each individual, with deviations in physiological, psychological, and performance variables. Regardless of the overwhelming amount of research, there is a lack of any comprehensive studies addressing all components of overtraining. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the effects training load had on performance and psychological variables across a competitive season in collegiate female swimmers. Participants included 19 Division I female swimmers (Age: 19.74±1.19 yrs) who completed 6 tethered swimming tests, yielding the mean force (Fmean) produced during a 20 second period, as well as completing 7 Recovery-Stress Questionnaires (RESTQ-76), yielding a Total Recovery-Stress Score (TRSS). RPE scores were also collected for every training session from each athlete. From this, Session RPE was calculated by multiplying RPE by the meters completed in the training session yielding an arbitrary number representative of the individuals\u27 internal training load. Utilizing the Session RPE data across the entire season, the participants were categorized into High, Middle, and Low training load groups (TLG). Analysis revealed no significant interaction between TLG and TRSS, or between TLG and Fmean. However, there was a significant time effect for TRSS (p\u3c0.001) where there is a significant decreases from the 1st to the 2nd trial (p=0.006), and from the 2nd to the 3rd trial (p=0.05), and significant increases between the 3rd and 4th trial (p\u3c0.001), and between the 5th and 6th trial (p\u3c0.001). Similarly, there was a significant time effect for Fmean (p=0.004) where there is a significant decrease between the 1st and 2nd trial (p=0.004), and a significant increase between the 3rd and 4th trial (p=0.01). The results of this study indicated that although there was no statistically recognizable difference between groups for performance and psychological variables across a competitive season, there were significant changes that occurred across a season for both variables that have practical significance. For coaches, athletes, and researchers, the application of these tools can be used to monitor training for their athletes in an effort to avoid overtraining and under-recovery

Comparing Energy Expenditure During Land and Shallow Water Walking in Overweight and Obese Females

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States has reached epidemic levels. Reduction in body weight is of great importance for overweight and obese individuals through the increase in physical activity. One particular mode of physical activity that is currently growing in popularity is shallow water walking, although little research has been done examining the energy cost of this activity in an overweight and obese population. Purpose: To compare the energy expenditure (kcal/min) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of a bout shallow water walking at a self-selected pace to a bout of land walking at a matched heart rate response and to a bout of land walking at a self-selected pace in overweight and obese women. Methods: Nineteen participants completed three 10-minute experimental trials including a self-selected pace shallow water walking trial, a matched heart rate response land walking trial, and a self-selected pace land walking trial. Results: Significantly lower energy expenditure (p= 0.046) was observed for shallow water walking (6.46 ± 1.38 kcal/min) compared to the matched heart rate response land walking bout (7.26 ± 1.29 kcal/min), although no significant differences were detected for energy expenditure for shallow water walking and self-selected pace land walking (6.92 ± 1.61 kcal/min). No significant differences were detected for RPE across conditions (p=0.439). Exploratory analyses revealed correlations between measures of body composition (BMI and percent body fat) and the difference in energy expenditure between shallow water walking and matched heart rate response land walking. Conclusions: Findings from the current study suggest that although producing energy expenditure compared to heart rate matched land walking, shallow water walking is a viable alternative that can elicit and increase in energy expenditure performed at a moderate intensity, meeting ACSM criteria. Results of the exploratory analyses revealed an association between measures of body composition and differences in energy expenditure. Although only a limited number of participants of the present study had BMI’s above 35.0 kg/m2 (n=2), findings suggest that water exercise may be an alternative form of exercise and produce higher caloric expenditure at higher ranges of BMI and percent body fat

RELIABILITY AND ACCURACY OF A STANDARDIZED SHALLOW WATER RUNNING TEST TO DETERMINE CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS

A standardized fitness assessment is critical for the development of an individualized exercise prescription. Although the benefits of aquatic exercise have been well established, there remains the need for a standardized nonswimming protocol to accurately assess cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in shallow water. The present investigation was designed to assess (a) the reliability of a standardized shallow water run (SWR) test of CRF and (b) the accuracy of a standardized SWR compared with a land-based treadmill (LTM)test. Twenty-three healthy women (20 6 3 years), with body mass index (23.5 6 3 kg$m22), performed 2 shallow water peak oxygen consumption (V_ O2peak) running tests (SWRa and SWRb), and 1 V_ O2max LTM. Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated moderately strong reliability for V_ O2peak (ml$kg21$min21) (r = 0.73, p , 0.01), HR peak (b$min21) (r = 0.82; p , 0.01), and O2pulse (V_ O2 [ml$kg21$min21]$HR [b$min21]) (r = 0.77, p , 0.01). Using paired t-tests and Pearson’s correlations, SWR V_ O2peak and HR peak were significantly lower than during LTM (p # 0.05) and showed moderate correlations of 0.60 and 0.58 (p , 0.001) to LTM. O2pulse was similar (p . 0.05) for the SWR and LTM tests with a moderate correlation of 0.63. A standardized SWR test asa measure of CRF is a reliable, and to some degree, valid alternative to conventional protocols and may be used by strength and conditioning professionals to measure program outcomes and monitor training progress. Furthermore, this protocol provides a water-based option for CRF assessment among healthy women and offers insight toward the development of an effective protocol that can accommodate individuals with limited mobility, or those seeking less musculoskeletal impact from traditional land-based types of training

Associations Between Stage of Behavior Change, Physical Activity, and Self-efficacy in Prenatal Women

This presentation was given during the American College of Sport Medicine Annual Meeting