Abstract
Background: We aimed to investigate whether water polo players of different playing levels and positions differ in fitness parameters (i.e., strength, aerobic endurance, and anaerobic potential). Methods: Twenty-four water polo players were assigned to international- (IL) and national-level (NL) groups or to centers and peripherals. At the beginning of preseason training, maximal bench press strength was measured and a speed–lactate test (5 × 200m) was performed to determine the speed corresponding to lactate concentrations of 4.0 (V4), 5.0 (V5), and 10.0 (V10) mmol·L−1. Results: Maximal muscular strength was similar between international- and national-level water polo players, but it was higher in centers than in peripherals (109.2 ± 12.2 kg vs. 96.9 ± 8.5 kg, p = 0.007). IL players showed higher V4, V5, and V10 compared to NL players (V4, IL: 1.27 ± 0.04 m·s−1 vs. NL: 1.17 ± 0.06 m·s−1), (V5, IL: 1.33 ± 0.03 m·s−1 vs. NL: 1.22 ± 0.05 m·s−1), and V10 (IL: 1.50 ± 0.31 vs. NL: 1.35 ± 0.06 m·s−1) (p < 0.01)). However, no significant differences were detected between centers and peripherals inV4, V5, and V10. Conclusions: We suggest that V4, V5, and V10 distinguish playing level in water polo, whereas they are comparable between playing positions. Although maximal strength is similar between playing levels, it is different between playing positions.
Highlights
Water polo players participate in several high-intensity bouts separated by lower-intensity efforts [1,2], suggesting that high levels of strength and aerobic and anaerobic capacity are essential for successful participation in elite water polo leagues [3]
It is reasonable to expect that the abovementioned indicators likely discriminate among players of national and international levels, no study has compared the strength level as well as the physiological characteristics depicting both aerobic and anaerobic power of water polo players of different playing standards
Anaerobic (V5 and potential compared to players, and the study are: (a) muscular strength is similar between IL and NL water polo players, but IL players (b) centers demonstrate a higher strength level(V5 butand similar andcompared anaerobictopotential compared demonstrate higher aerobic (V4) and anaerobic
Summary
Water polo players participate in several high-intensity bouts separated by lower-intensity efforts [1,2], suggesting that high levels of strength and aerobic and anaerobic capacity are essential for successful participation in elite water polo leagues [3]. Recent evidence suggests that the swimming velocity corresponding to 4.0 mmol·L−1 (V4), 5.0 mmol·L−1 (V5), and 10.0 mmol·L−1 (V10) as well as the differential velocity between 10–5 mmol·L−1 (V10–V5) are indicators of the aerobic and anaerobic potential of water polo players [4,5,6]. The abovementioned indicators are sensitive indices for in-game water polo performance [6]. It is reasonable to expect that the abovementioned indicators likely discriminate among players of national and international levels, no study has compared the strength level as well as the physiological characteristics depicting both aerobic and anaerobic power of water polo players of different playing standards. We aimed to investigate whether water polo players of different playing levels and positions differ in fitness parameters (i.e., strength, aerobic endurance, and anaerobic potential)
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