High intensity and reduced volume training attenuates stress and recovery levels in elite swimmers

Anne-Marie Elbe, Camilla P Rasmussen, Glen Nielsen, Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg

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9 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of increased high-intensity interval training (HIT) at the expense of total training volume on the stress and recovery levels of elite swimmers. Forty-one elite swimmers participated in the study and were randomly assigned to either a HIT or a control group (CON). Eleven swimmers did not complete the questionnaires. For 12 weeks both groups trained ~12 h per week. The amount of HIT was ~5 h vs. 1 h, and total distance was ~17 km vs. ~35 km per week for HIT and CON, respectively. HIT was performed as 6-10 × 10-30 s maximal effort interspersed by 2-4 min of rest. The Recovery Stress Questionnaire - Sport was used to measure the swimmers' stress and recovery levels. After the 12 week intervention, the general stress level was 16.6% (2.6-30.7%; mean and 95% CI) lower and the general recovery level was 6.5% (0.7-12.4%) higher in HIT compared to the CON, after adjusting for baseline values. No significant effects could be observed in sports-specific stress or sports-specific recovery. The results indicate that increasing training intensity and reducing training volume for 12 weeks can reduce general stress and increase general recovery levels in competitive swimmers.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftEuropean Journal of Sport Science
Vol/bind16
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)344-349
Antal sider6
ISSN1746-1391
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2016

Bibliografisk note

CURIS 2016 NEXS 088

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