Resumen de Differences in VO2peak of Surfers When Paddling in Water vs. on a Swimbench Ergometer
Heather N. Furr, Mackenzie E. Warner, Taylor L. Copeland, Cristina Robles Rodríguez, Jesús Gustavo Ponce González, Jeff A. Nessler, Sean C. Newcomer
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that surfers would achieve a higher V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak when tested in a swim flume vs. on a swimbench ergometer. Forty-eight surfers (male: 38, female: 10) aged 18-45 years participated in the study. Protocol 1 and 2 both measured heart rate, oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2), and respiratory exchange ratio while subjects performed an incremental paddling test both on a swimbench ergometer and in a swim flume. Protocol 2 additionally measured muscle activity and changes in skin temperature. V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was significantly higher in the swim flume (33.03 +/- 1.04 ml[middle dot]kg-1[middle dot]min-1) vs. on the swimbench ergometer (29.86 +/- 1.08 ml[middle dot]kg-1[middle dot]min-1) (p value < 0.001). There were also significant differences in muscle activation and changes in skin temperature between the flume and ergometer (p-value < 0.05). Surfers significantly increased their V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak in the water suggesting previous reports of V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak likely underestimated surfer's aerobic fitness when measured on a swimbench ergometer. Future research investigating the aerobic fitness of surfers should be conducted while paddling in water or account for the 11% difference in V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak when tested on a swimbench ergometer.
