Resumen de Effects of Two Different Weight Training Programs on Swimming Performance and Muscle Enzyme Activities and Fiber Type
Glen R. Belfry, Earl G. Noble, Albert W. Taylor
The effects of 2 different weight training programs incorporating bench press (BP) and pullover (PO) exercises on swimming performance, power, enzyme activity, and fiber type distribution were studied on 16 men (age = 23 ± 4 years). A 30-second group (n = 6) performed up to 20 repetitions of BP and PO in 30 seconds. The 2-minute group (n = 6) performed a maximum of 80 repetitions of BP and PO in 2 minutes. As participants reached the prescribed 20 or 80 repetitions, the weight was increased 4.5 kg. A third group (n = 4) served as nontraining controls. Exercise groups trained 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Maximal effort swims of 50 and 200 yd were performed before and after training. Training resulted in increases in work on both exercises in both groups pre- to post-training (BP 30 seconds, 722 ± 236�895 ± 250 kg; PO 30 seconds, 586 ± 252�1,090 ± 677 kg; and BP 2 minutes, 1,530 ± 414�1,940 ± 296; PO 2 minutes, 1,212 ± 406�2,348 ± 194, p <= 0.05). Swim performances of the 30-second group improved for both the 50-yd (32.0 ± 6.9 seconds, 30.0 ± 5.9 seconds, p <= 0.05) and 200-yd swims 200.0 ± 54 seconds, 182 ± 45.1 seconds (p <= 0.05), whereas 2-minute training improved only the 200-yd swim (198.3 ± 32.3 seconds, 186.2 ± 32.2 seconds). No changes in swim performance were observed for the control group. Triceps muscle succinate dehydrogenase activities increased (pre 3.48 ± 1.1 µmol·g-1 wet weight per minute, post 6.25 ± 1.5 µmoles·g-1 wet weight per minute, p <= 0.05) in only the 30-second training group, whereas phosphofructokinase activities and fiber type distribution did not change in either training group. This study has demonstrated that a 30-second 20-repetition weight training program, specific to the swimming musculature without concurrent swim training, improves swimming performances at both 50- and 200-yd distances.
