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The main aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and the reliability of a swimming sensor to assess swimming performance and spatial-temporal variables. Six international male open-water swimmers completed a protocol which consisted of two training sets: a 6×100m individual medley and a continuous 800 m set in freestyle. Swimmers were equipped with a wearable sensor, the TritonWear to collect automatically spatial-temporal variables: speed, lap time, stroke count (SC), stroke length (SL), stroke rate (SR), and stroke index (SI). Video recordings were added as a “gold-standard” and used to assess the validity and the reliability of the TritonWear sensor. The results show that the sensor provides accurate results in comparison with video recording measurements. A very high accuracy was observed for lap time with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) under 5% for each stroke (2.2, 3.2, 3.4, 4.1% for butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle respectively) but high error ranges indicate a dependence on swimming technique. Stroke count accuracy was higher for symmetric strokes than for alternate strokes (MAPE: 0, 2.4, 7.1 & 4.9% for butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke & freestyle respectively). The other variables (SL, SR & SI) derived from the SC and the lap time also show good accuracy in all strokes. The wearable sensor provides an accurate real time feedback of spatial-temporal variables in six international open-water swimmers during classical training sets (at low to moderate intensities), which could be a useful tool for coaches, allowing them to monitor training load with no effort.
Robin Pla; Thibaut Ledanois; Escobar David Simbana; Anaël Aubry; Benjamin Tranchard; Jean-François Toussaint; Adrien Sedeaud; Ludovic Seifert. Spatial-temporal variables for swimming coaches: A comparison study between video and TritonWear sensor. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Thibaut Ledanois, Escobar David Simbana, Anaël Aubry, Benjamin Tranchard, Jean-François Toussaint, Adrien Sedeaud, Ludovic Seifert. Spatial-temporal variables for swimming coaches: A comparison study between video and TritonWear sensor. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Thibaut Ledanois; Escobar David Simbana; Anaël Aubry; Benjamin Tranchard; Jean-François Toussaint; Adrien Sedeaud; Ludovic Seifert. 2021. "Spatial-temporal variables for swimming coaches: A comparison study between video and TritonWear sensor." International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching , no. : 1.
The purpose was to observe the effects of a four-week lockdown on the resting heart rate (RHR) and well-being perception of elite swimmers. Twenty elite swimmers performed RHR measurements upon waking in supine and standing positions. Baseline values and those measured after four weeks of lockdown were compared. Swimmers completed a questionnaire on their training volume and state of well-being. During the lockdown, swimmers reported a weekly mean physical activity of 10.4 ± 3.6 h (an estimated reduction of 254% compared to their usual training volume). After four weeks of lockdown, RHR in the supine position increased by more than two beats per minute (58.8 ± 8.2 vs. 56.5 ± 7.4 bpm, p < 0.05). In the standing position, RHR increased by almost 15 beats per minute (103.3 ± 13.2 vs. 88.4 ± 9.4 bpm, p < 0.0001). Fifty percent of these athletes expressed a decrease in well-being. These results underline that the lockdown circumstances induced a large reduction in parasympathetic activity in elite athletes, which was associated with a decrease in training volume. This increase in RHR may reflect that a highatly strenuous environment and maintaining a high level of physical activity in this population could be favorable to preserve physical and psychological health.
Robin Pla; Laurent Bosquet; Anaël Aubry; Jean-François Toussaint; Adrien Sedeaud. Resting Heart Rate Measurement in Elite Athletes during COVID-19 Lockdown: The Impact of Decreased Physical Activity. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2970 .
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Laurent Bosquet, Anaël Aubry, Jean-François Toussaint, Adrien Sedeaud. Resting Heart Rate Measurement in Elite Athletes during COVID-19 Lockdown: The Impact of Decreased Physical Activity. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (5):2970.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Laurent Bosquet; Anaël Aubry; Jean-François Toussaint; Adrien Sedeaud. 2021. "Resting Heart Rate Measurement in Elite Athletes during COVID-19 Lockdown: The Impact of Decreased Physical Activity." Sustainability 13, no. 5: 2970.
The objective was to compare the metabolic responses of high-level national swimmers to threshold or polarised training. 22 swimmers (n = 12 males and 10 females) participated in a 28-week cross-over intervention study consisting of 2 × 6 period weeks of training. Swimmers were assigned randomly to either training group for the first period: polarised (POL) (81% in energetic zone 1: blood lactate [La]b ≤ 2 mmol.L−1; 4% in zone 2: 2 mmol.L−1 <[La]b ≤ 4 mmol.L−1; 15% in zone 3: [La]b > 4 mmol.L−1) or threshold (THR) (65%/25%/10%). Before and after each training period, urine samples were collected for non-targeted metabolomics analysis. Mixed model analysis was performed on metabolomics data including fatigue class factors and/or training and/or interaction. Ion intensities of 6-keto-decanoylcarnitine (+31%), pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (+81%), P-cresol sulphate (+18%) were higher in the threshold group (P < 0.05) indicating higher glycogenic depletion and inflammation without alteration of the neuroendocrine stress axis. 4-phenylbutanic acid sulphate was 200% higher in less fatigued swimmers (P < 0.01) linking the anti-inflammatory activity at the cell membrane level to the subjective perception of fatigue. This research suggests the importance of replenishing glycogen stores and reducing inflammation during high thresholds training loads.
Robin Pla; Estelle Pujos-Guillot; Stéphanie Durand; Marion Brandolini-Bunlon; Delphine Centeno; David B. Pyne; Jean-François Toussaint; Philippe Hellard. Non-targeted metabolomics analyses by mass spectrometry to explore metabolic stress after six training weeks in high level swimmers. Journal of Sports Sciences 2020, 39, 969 -978.
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Estelle Pujos-Guillot, Stéphanie Durand, Marion Brandolini-Bunlon, Delphine Centeno, David B. Pyne, Jean-François Toussaint, Philippe Hellard. Non-targeted metabolomics analyses by mass spectrometry to explore metabolic stress after six training weeks in high level swimmers. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2020; 39 (9):969-978.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Estelle Pujos-Guillot; Stéphanie Durand; Marion Brandolini-Bunlon; Delphine Centeno; David B. Pyne; Jean-François Toussaint; Philippe Hellard. 2020. "Non-targeted metabolomics analyses by mass spectrometry to explore metabolic stress after six training weeks in high level swimmers." Journal of Sports Sciences 39, no. 9: 969-978.
The hypoxic exercise test is used to predict the susceptibility to severe High Altitude Illness (SHAI). In the present study, we aimed to use this test to predict the changes in performance and the physiological responses to moderate altitude in elite swimmers. Eighteen elite swimmers performed a hypoxic exercise test at sea level before a moderate 12‐day altitude training camp (1,850 m) to determine if they were susceptible or not to SHAI. A maximal swimming performance test was conducted before (at sea level), during (at 1,850 m), and after (at sea level) the intervention. Arterial oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry), Lake Louise score, and quality of sleep questionnaire were collected every morning. The participants were classified in two groups, those who had a moderate to high risk of SHAI (SHAIscore ≥ 3) and those who had a low risk of SHAI (SHAIscore < 3). Seven swimmers presented a high risk of SHAI including three of them with a SHAIscore > 5. Pearson correlations indicated that SHAIscore was strongly correlated with the decrease in swimming performance at altitude (r = .60, p < .01). Arterial oxygen saturation during the hypoxic exercise test was the physiological variable that was best related to performance decrease at altitude (r = .54, p < .05). No differences were observed for Lake Louise score and quality of sleep between swimmers who suffered from SHAI or not (p > .1). In a population of elite swimmers, the combination of clinical and physiological variables (SHAIscore, oxygen desaturation) estimated the performance decrease at moderate altitude. The hypoxic exercise test could allow coaches and scientists to better determine the individual response of their athletes and manage the altitude acclimatization.
Robin Pla; Franck Brocherie; Sébastien Le Garrec; Jean‐Paul Richalet. Effectiveness of the hypoxic exercise test to predict altitude illness and performance at moderate altitude in high‐level swimmers. Physiological Reports 2020, 8, e14390 .
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Franck Brocherie, Sébastien Le Garrec, Jean‐Paul Richalet. Effectiveness of the hypoxic exercise test to predict altitude illness and performance at moderate altitude in high‐level swimmers. Physiological Reports. 2020; 8 (8):e14390.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Franck Brocherie; Sébastien Le Garrec; Jean‐Paul Richalet. 2020. "Effectiveness of the hypoxic exercise test to predict altitude illness and performance at moderate altitude in high‐level swimmers." Physiological Reports 8, no. 8: e14390.
This case study reports the training of an elite 25-km open-water swimmer and the daily heart rate variability (HRV) changes during the 19-week period leading to his world champion title. Training load was collected every day and resting HRV was recorded every morning. The swimmer's characteristics were V̇O2max: 58.5 ml·min-1·kg-1, maximal heart rate: 178 beats per minute, and maximal ventilation: 170 L·min-1. Weekly training volume was 85±21 km, 39±8% was at [La]b4 mmol·L-1 (Z3). In the supine position, the increase in training volume and Z2 training were related to increases in rMSSD and HF. In the standing position, an increase in parasympathetic activity and decrease in sympathetic activity were observed when Z1 training increased. Seasonal changes indicated higher values in the LF/HF ratio during taper, whereas higher values in parasympathetic indices were observed in heavy workload periods. This study reports extreme load of an elite ultra-endurance swimmer. Improvements in parasympathetic indices with increasing Z2 volume indicate that this training zone was useful to improve cardiac autonomic activity, whereas Z1 training reduced sympathetic activity.
Robin Pla; Anael Aubry; Noémie Resseguier; Magali Merino; Jean-François Toussaint; Philippe Hellard. Training Organization, Physiological Profile and Heart Rate Variability Changes in an Open-water World Champion. Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie 2019, 40, 519 -527.
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Anael Aubry, Noémie Resseguier, Magali Merino, Jean-François Toussaint, Philippe Hellard. Training Organization, Physiological Profile and Heart Rate Variability Changes in an Open-water World Champion. Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie. 2019; 40 (8):519-527.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Anael Aubry; Noémie Resseguier; Magali Merino; Jean-François Toussaint; Philippe Hellard. 2019. "Training Organization, Physiological Profile and Heart Rate Variability Changes in an Open-water World Champion." Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie 40, no. 8: 519-527.
ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of morphological characteristics on freestyle swimming performance by event and gender.DesignHeight, mass, body mass index (BMI) and speed data were collected for the top 100 international male and female swimmers from 50 to 1500 m freestyle events for the 2000–2014 seasons.MethodsSeveral Bayesian hierarchical regressions were performed on race speed with height, mass and BMI as predictors. Posterior probability distributions were computed using Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms.ResultsRegression results exhibited relationships between morphology and performance for both genders and all race distances. Height was always positively correlated with speed with a 95% probability. Conversely, mass plays a different role according to the context. Heavier profiles seem favourable on sprint distances, whereas mass becomes a handicap as distance increases. Male and female swimmers present several differences on the influence of morphology on speed, particularly about the mass. Best morphological profiles are associated with a gain of speed of 0.7%–3.0% for men and 1%–6% for women, depending on race distance. BMI has been investigated as a predictor of race speed but appears as weakly informative in this context.ConclusionMorphological indicators such as height and mass strongly contribute to swimming performance from sprint to distance events, and this contribution is quantified for each race distance. These profiles may help swimming federations to detect athletes and drive them to compete in specific distances according to their morphology.
Robin Pla; Arthur Leroy; Romain Massal; Maxime Bellami; Fatima Kaillani; Philippe Hellard; Jean-François Toussaint; Adrien Sedeaud. Bayesian approach to quantify morphological impact on performance in international elite freestyle swimming. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2019, 5, e000543 .
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Arthur Leroy, Romain Massal, Maxime Bellami, Fatima Kaillani, Philippe Hellard, Jean-François Toussaint, Adrien Sedeaud. Bayesian approach to quantify morphological impact on performance in international elite freestyle swimming. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2019; 5 (1):e000543.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Arthur Leroy; Romain Massal; Maxime Bellami; Fatima Kaillani; Philippe Hellard; Jean-François Toussaint; Adrien Sedeaud. 2019. "Bayesian approach to quantify morphological impact on performance in international elite freestyle swimming." BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 5, no. 1: e000543.
To quantify the impact of a polarized distribution of training intensity on performance and fatigue in elite swimmers. Twenty-two elite junior swimmers (12 males: age 17 ± 3 yrs, and 10 females: age 17 ± 3 yrs) participated in a cross-over intervention study over 28 weeks involving 2 x 6-week training periods separated by 6 weeks. Swimmers were randomly assigned to a training group for the first period: polarized (POL) (81% in zone 1: [La]b ≤ 2 mmol·L-1; 4% in zone 2: 2 mmol·L-1 < [La]b ≤ 4 mmol·L-1; 15% in zone 3: [La]b > 4 mmol·L-1) or threshold (THR) (65%/25%/10%). Before and after each period, they performed a 100 m maximal swimming test to determine performance, maximal blood lactate concentration ([La]max) and oxygen consumption (V̇O2), and an incremental swimming test to determine speed corresponding to [La]b = 4 mmol·L-1 (V4mmol·L-1). Self-reported indices of well-being were collected with a daily questionnaire. POL training elicited small to moderately greater improvement than THR on 100 m performance (0.97% ± 1.02%; within-group change: ± 90% CI vs. 0.09% ± 0.94% respectively) with less fatigue and better quality of recovery. There was no substantial gender effect. No clear differences were observed in physiological adaptations between groups. In elite junior swimmers, a 6-week period of polarized training induced small improvements in 100 m time-trial performance, and in combination with less perceived fatigue, forms a viable option for coaches preparing this cohort of swimmers for competition.
Robin Pla; Yann Le Meur; Anael Aubry; Jean-François Toussaint; Phililppe Hellard. Effects of a 6-Week Period of Polarized or Threshold Training on Performance and Fatigue in Elite Swimmers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 2019, 14, 183 -189.
AMA StyleRobin Pla, Yann Le Meur, Anael Aubry, Jean-François Toussaint, Phililppe Hellard. Effects of a 6-Week Period of Polarized or Threshold Training on Performance and Fatigue in Elite Swimmers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2019; 14 (2):183-189.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pla; Yann Le Meur; Anael Aubry; Jean-François Toussaint; Phililppe Hellard. 2019. "Effects of a 6-Week Period of Polarized or Threshold Training on Performance and Fatigue in Elite Swimmers." International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 14, no. 2: 183-189.