Peak Aerobic Capacity (VO₂peak) Assessment of NCAA Division III Mid-Distance Swimmers Versus Mid-Distance Runners
Access Type
Open Access
Presentation Type
Asynchronous
Entry Number
50
School
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Department
Athletic Training
Keywords
VO2peak, aerobic capacity, swimmers, runners, mid-distance, Division III athletes, exercise physiology
Abstract
Peak Aerobic Capacity (VO₂peak) Assessment of NCAA Division III Mid-Distance Swimmers Versus Mid-Distance Runners
Madelyn L. Foreman ATS*, Sean M. Collins, PhD, CSCS*D%, Thomas G. Bowman, PhD, ATC* *Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, VA, % Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Lynchburg, VA
Address correspondence to: Madelyn Foreman, ATS, Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501. Phone: (540)-498-5689. Email: foremanm277@lynchburg.edu
Context: Cardiorespiratory endurance is critical for success in mid-distance events. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) provides insight into aerobic capacity and training adaptations. Swimming incorporates breath-control and hypoxic training demands, whereas running relies on continuous breathing, potentially leading to differences in VO2peak between the two sports.
Objective: To compare VO2peak values between NCAA Division III mid-distance swimmers (200m/400m) and mid-distance track and field runners (800m/1500m), and to examine the physiological differences.
Design: Independent samples t-tests
Setting: University of Lynchburg exercise physiology laboratory.
Patients or Other Participants: We recruited 14 NCAA Division III male and female swimmers (n = 7) and runners (n = 7) to achieve the desired statistical power. Participants are [20.3 ± 1.2 years old], [173.2 ± 9.6cm] tall, and [71.8 ± 11.4 kg] in body mass.
Interventions: We evaluated VO2peak using a Metabolic Cart (TrueOne 2400; ParvoMedics, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) during a graded VO2peak test on a Cycle Ergometer (Lode Corival; Lodi, Groningen, Netherlands). We continuously monitored heart rate via a Polar T31 monitor (Kempele, Finland). We assessed training characteristics, including volume and intensity, via a self-administered digital questionnaire developed in Google Forms to further drive discussion.
Main Outcome Measure(s): VO2peak (mL/kg/min), HR
Results: Independent samples t-tests revealed significant physiological differences between NCAA Division III mid-distance swimmers and runners. Swimmers demonstrated significantly higher respiratory exchange ratio (RER) values compared to runners (t(12) = 2.14, p = .027, one-tailed), indicating greater carbohydrate utilization during exercise. In contrast, runners exhibited significantly higher peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak; ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) than swimmers (t(12) = −2.07, p = .030, one-tailed), reflecting greater aerobic capacity. No significant difference in heart rate was observed between groups (p > .05).
Conclusions: These findings indicate that NCAA Division III runners demonstrate higher VO₂peak compared to swimmers, suggesting greater land-based aerobic capacity despite swimmers’ breath-control adaptations. Conversely, swimmers exhibited higher RER values, indicating a greater reliance on carbohydrate metabolism during maximal exercise.
Key Words: VO2peak, aerobic capacity, swimmers, runners, mid-distance, Division III athletes, exercise physiology
Key Points:
-
This study compared maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) between NCAA Division III mid-distance swimmers and runners to examine the influence of sport-specific training and breath control on aerobic capacity.
-
Participants completed a graded exercise test (GXT) on a cycle ergometer and a questionnaire assessing training volume and intensity to explore relationships between training variables and VO₂peak performance to drive discussion.
-
Findings aim to enhance understanding of how differing endurance training modalities contribute to aerobic adaptations, potentially informing conditioning and cross-training strategies in collegiate athletes.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Sean M. Collins, PhD, CSCS*D% Thomas G. Bowman, PhD, ATC*
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
Department of Athletic Training
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Peak Aerobic Capacity (VO₂peak) Assessment of NCAA Division III Mid-Distance Swimmers Versus Mid-Distance Runners
Peak Aerobic Capacity (VO₂peak) Assessment of NCAA Division III Mid-Distance Swimmers Versus Mid-Distance Runners
Madelyn L. Foreman ATS*, Sean M. Collins, PhD, CSCS*D%, Thomas G. Bowman, PhD, ATC* *Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, VA, % Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Lynchburg, VA
Address correspondence to: Madelyn Foreman, ATS, Department of Athletic Training, University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501. Phone: (540)-498-5689. Email: foremanm277@lynchburg.edu
Context: Cardiorespiratory endurance is critical for success in mid-distance events. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) provides insight into aerobic capacity and training adaptations. Swimming incorporates breath-control and hypoxic training demands, whereas running relies on continuous breathing, potentially leading to differences in VO2peak between the two sports.
Objective: To compare VO2peak values between NCAA Division III mid-distance swimmers (200m/400m) and mid-distance track and field runners (800m/1500m), and to examine the physiological differences.
Design: Independent samples t-tests
Setting: University of Lynchburg exercise physiology laboratory.
Patients or Other Participants: We recruited 14 NCAA Division III male and female swimmers (n = 7) and runners (n = 7) to achieve the desired statistical power. Participants are [20.3 ± 1.2 years old], [173.2 ± 9.6cm] tall, and [71.8 ± 11.4 kg] in body mass.
Interventions: We evaluated VO2peak using a Metabolic Cart (TrueOne 2400; ParvoMedics, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) during a graded VO2peak test on a Cycle Ergometer (Lode Corival; Lodi, Groningen, Netherlands). We continuously monitored heart rate via a Polar T31 monitor (Kempele, Finland). We assessed training characteristics, including volume and intensity, via a self-administered digital questionnaire developed in Google Forms to further drive discussion.
Main Outcome Measure(s): VO2peak (mL/kg/min), HR
Results: Independent samples t-tests revealed significant physiological differences between NCAA Division III mid-distance swimmers and runners. Swimmers demonstrated significantly higher respiratory exchange ratio (RER) values compared to runners (t(12) = 2.14, p = .027, one-tailed), indicating greater carbohydrate utilization during exercise. In contrast, runners exhibited significantly higher peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak; ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) than swimmers (t(12) = −2.07, p = .030, one-tailed), reflecting greater aerobic capacity. No significant difference in heart rate was observed between groups (p > .05).
Conclusions: These findings indicate that NCAA Division III runners demonstrate higher VO₂peak compared to swimmers, suggesting greater land-based aerobic capacity despite swimmers’ breath-control adaptations. Conversely, swimmers exhibited higher RER values, indicating a greater reliance on carbohydrate metabolism during maximal exercise.
Key Words: VO2peak, aerobic capacity, swimmers, runners, mid-distance, Division III athletes, exercise physiology
Key Points:
-
This study compared maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) between NCAA Division III mid-distance swimmers and runners to examine the influence of sport-specific training and breath control on aerobic capacity.
-
Participants completed a graded exercise test (GXT) on a cycle ergometer and a questionnaire assessing training volume and intensity to explore relationships between training variables and VO₂peak performance to drive discussion.
-
Findings aim to enhance understanding of how differing endurance training modalities contribute to aerobic adaptations, potentially informing conditioning and cross-training strategies in collegiate athletes.