Reproducibility of Limb Power Outputs and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Exercise Using a Novel Swimming Training Machine

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of limb power outputs and cardiopulmonary responses, to incremental whole-body exercise using a novel swimming training machine. 8 swimmers with a mean age of 23.7±4.6 (yrs), stature 1.77±0.13 (m) and body mass of 74.7±2.8 (kg) gave informed consent and participated in repeat exercise testing on the machine. All subjects performed 2 incremental exercise tests to exhaustion using front crawl movements. From these tests peak oxygen consumption (VO 2peak ), peak heart rate (HR peak ), peak power output (W peak ) and individual limb power outputs were determined. Results showed there were no significant differences between test 1 and 2 for any variable at exhaustion, and the CV% ranged from 2.8 to 3.4%. The pooled mean values were; VO 2peak 3.7±0.65 L.min -1 , HR peak 178.7±6.6 b.min -1 and W peak 349.7±16.5 W. The mean contributions to the total power output from the legs and arms were (37.3±4.1% and 62.7±5.1% respectively). These results show that it is possible to measure individual limb power outputs and cardopulmonary parameters reproducibly during whole-body exercise using this training machine, at a range of exercise intensities.