The Influence of Muscle Fiber Typology on the Pacing Strategy of 200-m Freestyle Swimmers

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Mallett, Adam
Bellinger, Phillip
Derave, Wim
McGibbon, Katie
Lievens, Eline
Kennedy, Ben
Rice, Hal
Minahan, Clare
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2021
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the influence of muscle fiber typology (MFT) on the pacing strategy of elite swimmers competing in the 200-m freestyle event. Method: The top 3 career-best performances from 25 elite 200-m freestyle swimmers were analyzed—12 women (1:58.0 [0:01.3] min:s) and 13 men (1:48.4 [0:02.5]). Muscle carnosine concentration was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and expressed as a carnosine aggregate z score (CAZ score) relative to an age- and gender-matched nonathlete control group to estimate MFT. Linear regression models were employed to examine the influence of MFT on the percentage of overall race time spent in each 50-m lap. Results: Swimmers with a higher CAZ score spent a greater percentage of race time in lap 3 compared with swimmers with a lower CAZ score (0.1%, 0.0% to 0.2%; mean, 90% confidence interval, P = .02). For every 1% increase in the percentage of race time spent in lap 1, the percentage of race time spent in lap 3 decreased by 0.4% for swimmers with a higher CAZ score (0.2% to −0.5%, P = .00, r = −.51), but not for swimmers with a lower CAZ score (−0.1%, −0.3% to 0.1%, P = .28, r = −.18). The percentage of race time spent in lap 4 decreased by 0.8% for higher-CAZ-score swimmers (−0.5% to −1.0%, P = .00, r = −.66) and by 0.9% for lower-CAZ-score swimmers (−0.6% to −1.3%, P = .00, r = −.65) when lap 1 percentage increased by 1%. Conclusion: MFT may influence the pacing strategy of swimmers in the 200-m freestyle event, which provides an avenue for maximizing individualized pacing strategies of elite swimmers.

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International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Sport and exercise nutrition

Sports science and exercise

Clinical sciences

Medical physiology

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Mallett, A; Bellinger, P; Derave, W; McGibbon, K; Lievens, E; Kennedy, B; Rice, H; Minahan, C, The Influence of Muscle Fiber Typology on the Pacing Strategy of 200-m Freestyle Swimmers, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2021

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