This study evaluated the influence of an altitude training (AT) camp on swimming start time and loaded squat jump performance. To accomplish this goal, 13 international swimmers (8 women, 5 men) were allocated to both the control (Sea Level Training, SLT) and experimental conditions (AT, 2320 m above sea level) that were separated by a one year period. All tests (15 m freestyle swimming start and loaded squat jumps with additional loads of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of swimmers’ body weight) were performed before and after a concurrent 3-week strength and endurance training program prescribed by the national coach. Following the SLT camp, significant impairments in swimming start times to 10 (+3.1%) and 15 m (+4.0%) were observed (P < 0.05), whereas no significant changes for the same distances were detected following the AT camp (-0.89%; P > 0.05). Trivial changes in peak velocity were obtained during the loaded squat jump after both training periods (effect sizes: < 0.20). Based on these results we can conclude that a traditional training high—living high strategy concurrent training of 3 weeks does not adversely affect swimming start time and loaded squat jump performance in high level swimmers, but further studies are necessary to assess the effectiveness of power-oriented resistance training in the development of explosive actions.
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia;Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;High performance Center of Sierra Nevada, Spanish Sport Council, Granada, Spain;High performance Center of Sierra Nevada, Spanish Sport Council, Granada, Spain;High performance Center of Sierra Nevada, Spanish Sport Council, Granada, Spain;Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia;Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia;Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia;Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Recommended Citation:
Amador García-Ramos,Igor Štirn,Paulino Padial,et al. The Effect of an Altitude Training Camp on Swimming Start Time and Loaded Squat Jump Performance[J]. PLOS ONE,2016-01-01,11(7)