SUBMAXIMAL SWIMMING PRODUCES BEST LACTATE REMOVAL IN RECOVERY

Neric, F. B., Beam, W., & Brown, L. E. (2006). The effects of electrical stimulation and submaximal swimming on blood lactate following a maximal effort 200 yard front crawl. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5), Supplement abstract 1405.

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This study evaluated the effect of recovery mode on lactate removal. Competitive swimmers (M = 19; F = 11) swam a 1,200 - 1,500-yd warm-up, sprinted a 200-yd front crawl, and completed a 20-minute randomized-counterbalanced recovery. Recovery modes were defined as follows: SMS (8×100-yd repeats at 65% of 200-yd maximum velocity), H-waveŽ (30 mA, 2 Hz; latissimus dorsirectus femoris), and rest (seated). Lactate samples were defined as follows: peak (3-minutes post-sprint), mid-recovery (10 minutes into recovery), and post-recovery (following the final 10 minutes).

Submaximal swim recovery resulted in blood lactate being significantly lower than rest at mid-recovery, and significantly lower than both H-waveŽ and rest at post-recovery. H-waveŽ led to a significantly lower blood lactate than rest at post-recovery.

Implication. Submaximal swimming in recovery produces better lactate recovery than H-waveŽ or passive rest. H-waveŽ is more effective in promoting lactate recovery than rest.

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