The Effect Of Three Different Modes Of Recovery On Lactate Removal Rate Following A Maximal Effort Swim In Masters Level Swimmers

Abstract

During swim competition, active recovery swimming (ARS) following the competitive event is often encouraged to hasten recovery prior to subsequent events. Often a single main competition pool precludes the opportunity for ARS, so alternative activities of active recovery cycling (ARC) or passive recovery (PR) are used. PURPOSE: To compare the rate of change in blood lactate using ARS, ARC and PR, following a maximal effort swim. METHODS: 8 (3 male, 5 female) masters level swimmers (age range 26-61) volunteered for the study. Each subject completed a 500 meter swim warm-up at moderate pace. After completion of the warm-up each subject completed a 100 meter freestyle maximal effort swim, followed by one of three randomly assigned 15 min recovery trials with blood lactate obtained by finger puncture at 3, 5, 10 and 15 min post swim. The three trials consisted of: PR (subject sat on the pool deck), ARS (swim freestyle @ a pace 30 sec/100 meter slower than the max effort), and ARC (airdyne cycling @ 60% HRR). Statistical analysis by ANOVA (p<.05) were applied to these data. RESULTS: At 3, 5, 10, and 15 min post swim, lactate values (mmol) were 6.5, 6.5, 6.2, and 5.4 for PR, 7.2, 6.3, 5.4, and 4.8 for ARS, and 7.1, 5.6, 4.7 and 4.1 for ARC, respectively. There were no differences (p >.05) among the three recovery modes in terms of % lactic acid clearance at 5 and 10 min post swim, however at 15 min ARC clearance of 42% was greater (p<.05) than PR (18%), but similar to ARS (34%). CONCLUSION: Large individual variation in lactate efflux, as well as swim technique may, in part, be responsible for heterogeneous recovery responses. Improved lactate clearance appears allied with active recovery regardless of the mode of exercise.