Dissertation committee:
Ανάργυρος Τουμπέκης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεράσιμος Τερζής, Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Γρηγόρης Μπογδάνης, Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Γελαδάς, Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεώργιος Παραδείσης, Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Χαρίλαος Τσολάκης, Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Πέτρος Μποτώνης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
The aim of the current thesis was to examine: i) the acute effects of dry-land strength endurance (SE) and maximum strength (MS) protocols, ii) re-examine the acute effect of SE and MS following 6 weeks of concurrent SE, MS, and high intensity swimming training, and iii) before and after 16 weeks of swimming training restriction, on performance, physiological responses, and technical variables in a subsequent maximum intensity swimming training. In the first study, swimmers (N=27) completed three experimental conditions: i) MS, 3 sets x 4 repetitions, load: 90% of 1RM, 3 min rest between sets ii) SE, 2 sets x 20 repetitions, load: 55% of 1RM, 20 s between sets, and iii) control (CON). Twenty minutes following MS, SE and CON sessions swimmers participated in swimming training, consisting of 800-m warm-up, a 10-s tethered swimming, 4X50, and a 100-m front crawl with a maximum effort. In the second study swimmers participated in condition MS, SE, and CON as in the first study and subsequently were assigned to three equal ability groups completing 6 weeks of MS concurrent to maximum intensity swimming (group A-MS), SE concurrent to maximum intensity swimming (group B-SE) and maximum intensity swimming training only for 2-3 sessions per week (group C-CON). Conditions MS, SE, and CON were repeated at the end of the 6 weeks period. In the third study swimmers participated in conditions SE, MS, CON before and after 16 weeks of swimming training restriction. In all studies, performance time, physiological and biomechanical parameters were measured during 4X50-m and 100-m. In the first study, mean 4X50-m time decreased 1.7±2.7% in SE compared to CON (p=0.01). Blood lactate concentration was increased following MS and SE compared to CON condition (p<0.05). In the second study swimmers improved their mean performance time in all groups, but upper body strength was improved only in A-MS and B-SE compared to C-CON (p<0.05). Performance changes during 4X50-m and 100-m following MS and SE conditions vs. CON were similar for all groups before and after the 6 weeks period of training (p<0.05). Sixteen weeks of swimming training restriction in the third study, deteriorated mean time, and biomechanical variables in MS, SE, and CON conditions (p<0,05). However, performance changes following MS vs. CON and SE vs. CON conditions were not different before and after 16 weeks of swimming training restriction. Dry-land resistance training planned to develop SE may deteriorate swimmer’s performance time during the subsequent maximum intensity swimming training. A 6-week concurrent training of MS, SE with maximum intensity swimming training improved swimmers’ performance, and presented similar effect during the re-assessment of the MS and SE. Accordingly a period of 16 weeks of swimming training restriction may deteriorate swimmer’s performance but presented similar effect during the re-assessment of MS, and SE in the subsequent maximum intensity swimming training session performance.
Keywords:
maximum strength, strength endurance, concurrent training, detraining, performance
