Kirwan, J. P., Costill, D. L., Flynn, M. G., Mitchell, J. B., Fink, W. J., Neufer, P. D., & Houmard, J. A. (1988). Physiological responses to successive days of intense training in competitive swimmers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 20, 255-259.

No improvement in either physiological tests or swimming performance was evidenced when the training distance was doubled and intensity kept constant.

Implication. Once an optimal training distance (volume) is achieved, the only avenue for further improvements through physiological conditioning is through an increase in swimming intensity (quality).

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.