Browsing by Author "Veiga, Santiago"
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Item A Single Dose of Beetroot Juice not Enhance Performance during Intervallic Swimming Efforts.(Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2024) Moreno-Heredero, Berta; Morencos Martínez, Esther; Morais, Jorge E.; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Veiga, SantiagoDespite the numerous scientific evidence on the topic, there is no clear and consistent answer that clarifies the true effects of beetroot juice (BJ) supplementation on different types of physical performance. This study examined whether an acute intake of BJ improves swimming performance, physiological variables of anaerobic metabolism, or subjective measures during high-intensity interval exercise with incomplete rest in competitive swimmers. Eighteen competitive swimmers (nine females and nine males) participated in this cross-over randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind and counterbalanced study. In two trials, swimmers ingested BJ (70 mL, 6.4 mmol/400 mg NO3-) or placebo (PLA) (70 mL, 0.04 mmol/3 mg NO3-) three hours before a 2×6×100 m maximal effort with 40 seconds rest between repetitions and three minutes between blocks. The 100 m times showed no differences between groups (p > 0.05), but there was an interaction between block×repetition×condition (F5 = 3.10; p = 0.046; ηp2 = 0.54), indicating that the BJ group decreased the time of the sixth repetition of block2 compared to block1 (p = 0.01). Lactate concentration showed no differences between conditions (p > 0.05), but there was a main effect of block (ηp2 = 0.60) and a block×repetition interaction (ηp2 = 0.70), indicating higher values in block2 and increasing values between repetitions in block1. The subjective scales, perception of exertion (RPE) and Total Quality Recovery (TQR), showed no effects of condition (p > 0.05), but BJ swimmers had a greater TQR in the last repetitions of each block. In conclusion, a single dose of BJ did not enhance intermittent swimming performance or modified the physiological (lactate and heart rate) or subjective (RPE and TQR) variables; although there was a possible positive effect on the exercise tolerance at the end of effort.Item Analysis of Sport Supplement Consumption by Competitive Swimmers According to Sex and Competitive Level.(Nutrients, 2022) Moreno Heredero, Berta; Veiga, Santiago; Sánchez-Oliver, Antonio J.; Domínguez, Raúl; Morencos Martínez, EstherSports supplements (SS) are commonly used by athletes to improve their performance. SS use by competitive swimmers is reported to be prevalent but there is no evidence of such use by elite swimmers, either male or female. The objective of this research was to study the patterns of SS use by competitive swimmers based on sex and competitive levels (national and international); Methods: Using the categories of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), a total of 102 competitive swimmers (59 men and 43 women) completed a validated self-administered questionnaire on the use of SS; (3) Results: Overall, 86.9% of swimmers had consumed SSs with no differences observed between males and females (p = 0.247) or between competitive levels (p = 0.597). The SS that were most consumed by swimmers were caffeine (53.5%), sport drinks (52.5%), sport bars (51.5%), and vitamin C (43.4%). SSs categorized as medical supplements were consumed significantly more frequently by international swimmers (p = 0.012), with significant differences also found in the level—sex interaction (p = 0.049); (4) Conclusions: Compared to other sports disciplines, the prevalence of SS consumption is high in competitive swimmers regardless of performance level or gender. However, the consumption of medical supplements was greater in swimmers at a higher performance level.Item Effects of beetroot juice intake on repeated performance of competitive swimmers.(Frontiers In Physiology, 2023) Moreno Heredero, Berta; Morencos Martínez, Esther; Vicente Campos, Davinia; Muñoz Moreno, Alejandro; González García, Jaime; Veiga, SantiagoBackground: Beetroot juice is a sport supplement with a high level of evidence on the physical performance enhancement. However, in swimming, there is no clear data about the effects of beetroot juice on performance. Objective: To investigate whether an acute intake of beetroot juice (BJ) improves the performance of competitive swimmers in a repeated maximum swimming effort. Method: Thirteen national-level swimmers (six females and seven males), participated in this randomized, double-blind crossover study. In two different trials, swimmers ingested a 70-mL placebo shot (.04 mmol NO3−; PLA) or a 70-mL Beet-It shot (6.4 mmol of NO3−beet juice [BJ]) 3 h before undergoing a 6 × 100-m front-crawl maximal effort test with 7 min rest between each 100 m. Results: Overall, 100-m times showed no difference between the BJ and PLA groups (p = .364), although a possibly shorter time was observed for BJ in the last repetition (p = .104; mean difference [MD] = −.99 s, mean-based inference [MBI] = 49/51/0). Participants in the BJ condition showed a possibly lower rate of perceived exertion in the first (p = .242, MD = −.85, MBI = 70/28/2) and second repetitions (p = .165, MD = 1.15, MBI = 83/16/1), whereas Total Quality Recovery scale scores were likely higher in the first (p = .110, MD = 1.15, MBI = 83/16/1) and third (p = .082, MD = −.77, MBI = 70/29/1) repetitions compared with those in the PLA group. Blood lactate concentration [La+] levels showed no differences between groups in any of the repetitions (p > .05, unclear), and we observed an increase in 100-m times for both BJ and PLA (BJ: p = .014, MD = −1.51 s; PLA: p = .029, MD = −1.57 s) after the fifth repetition. Conclusion: No clear differences in performance were observed in a 6 × 100-m repeated sprint test by competitive swimmers when supplementing (or not) with BJ. However, there was a trend toward a better recovery between efforts and a better tolerance of fatigue when swimmers ingested BJ.Item Effects of Six Weeks of Flywheel Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift Training on Speed, Jumping and Change of Direction Performance.(International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022) Morencos Martínez, Esther; González Frutos, Pablo; Rivera, Carlos; Veiga, SantiagoSeveral studies have confirmed the efficacy of flywheel training, mainly in the bilateral half-squat exercise. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of single-leg Romanian deadlift flywheel training on speed, jumping and change of direction performance. Seventeen young healthy males underwent two periods of 3-week training based on two weekly sessions of 3 sets × 7 repetitions or 4 sets × 7 repetitions of single-leg Romanian deadlifts (0.037 kg/m² moment inertia) with their dominant and non-dominant leg. After the first three weeks of the program, the CMJ, the 10 m, 30 m and total sprint times, as well as the COD-90 test, presented likely substantial beneficial effects and a small decrease in the relationship between the sprint and COD-90 test performance. After the second period of the three-week training, likely detrimental effects were observed in some of the change of direction conditions and an increase in the relationship between the sprint and the COD-180 performance. It could be hypothesized that most of the flywheel training effects reported in the traditional protocols lasting a minimum of 5–6 weeks would occur in the first weeks of training.Item Evolution of the Hurdle-Unit Kinematic Parameters in the 60 m Indoor Hurdle Race.(Applied Sciences, 2020) González Frutos, Pablo; Veiga, Santiago; Mallo, Javier; Navarro, EnriqueThe aims of this study were to compare the five hurdle-unit split times from the deterministic model with the hurdle-to-hurdle model and with the official time, to compare the step kinematics of each hurdle-unit intervals, and to relate these variables to their respective hurdle-unit split times. The temporal and spatial parameters of the 60 m hurdles race were calculated during the 44th Spanish and 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships (men: n = 59; women: n = 51). The hurdle-unit split times from the deterministic model showed a high correlation (r = 0.99; p < 0.001) with the split times of the hurdle-to-hurdle model and faster split times were related to shorter step and flight times in hurdle steps for both genders. At the first hurdle, male athletes tended to increase their flight and contact times while the tendency of female athletes was to decrease their contact and flight times. In addition, at the first hurdle, both genders presented shorter take-off distance, shorter landing distance, and greater step width than in the remaining hurdles of the race. Therefore, coaches should implement training programs that have an impact on these key variables according to the specific demands of each hurdle-unit phase and gender.Item How Mixed Relay Teams in Swimming Should Be Organized for International Championship Success.(Frontiers in Psychology, 2021) Veiga, Santiago; Santos del Cerro, Jesús; Rodríguez, Luis; Trinidad Morales, Alfonso; González Ravé, José MaríaThe primary goal of the present research was to determine the order of swimmers on a mixed relay team that would ensure the best performance in the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Championships held in Kazan (Russia, 2015), Budapest (Hungary, 2017), and Gwangju (South Korea, 2019). The data were obtained from database websites for the 4 × 100 m freestyle and 4 × 100 m medley official results,1 including 660 records from 188 entries of finals and 472 preliminary events. The results showed that the fastest swimmers (according to their best season times) were located primarily in the first or second positions of the freestyle relay. The most successful gender strategy for the 4 × 100 m freestyle (57 out of 82 observations) and for the 4 × 100 m medley (29 out of 83) relays was the order male-male-female-female, although no statistical differences were found (p = 0.79) for the medley relays. In the 4 × 100 m freestyle, the second (p = 0.002; β = 1.62) and third (p =0.003; β = 1.41) relay legs had a statistical effect on the total relay time, whereas in the 4 × 100 m medley, all four relay legs had a statistical effect (p < 0.001) on the final performance, the weight of the four strokes being different in heats with respect to the final round. Also, a later position of the first female swimmer or the consecutive position of two female swimmers in the team order significantly affected the relay performance in specific events. Mixed relay events appeared to present specific strategies in comparison to traditional male- or female-only relay lineups.Item How Should the Transition from Underwater to Surface Swimming Be Performed by Competitive Swimmers?(Applied Sciences, 2021) Stosic, Jelena; Veiga, Santiago; Trinidad Morales, Alfonso; Navarro, EnriqueDespite the increasing importance of the underwater segment of start and turns in competition and its positive influence on the subsequent surface swimming, there is no evidence on how the transition from underwater to surface swimming should be performed. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the role of segmental, kinematic and coordinative parameters on the swimming velocity during the pre-transition and transition phases. A total of 30 national male swimmers performed 4 × 25 m (one each stroke) from a push start at maximum velocity while recorded from a lateral view by two sequential cameras (50 Hz), and their kinematic and coordinative swimming parameters were calculated by means of two-dimensional direct linear transformation (DLT) algorithms. Unlike pre-transition, backward regression analysis of transition significantly predicted swimming velocity in all strokes except breaststroke (R2 ranging from 0.263 in front crawl to 0.364 in butterfly). The inter-limb coordination was a predictor in butterfly stroke (p = 0.006), whereas the body depth and inclination were predictors in the alternate strokes (front crawl (p = 0.05) and backstroke (p = 0.04)). These results suggest that the body position and coordinative swimming parameters (apart from kicking or stroking rate and length) have an important influence on the transition performance, which depends on the swimming strokes.Item Race Strategies of Open Water Swimmers in the 5-km, 10-km, and 25-km Races of the 2017 FINA World Swimming Championships.(Frontiers in Psychology, 2019) Veiga, Santiago; Rodríguez, Luis; González Frutos, Pablo; Navandar, ArchitDespite literature on the pacing strategies of endurance sports, there is an existing lack of knowledge about the swimmers’ tactical decisions in the open water races. The aims of the present research were (1) to compare the pacing profiles and tactical strategies of successful elite open water swimmers (men and women) in the 5-km, 10-km, and 25-km races and (2) to relate these pacing strategies to the end race results. Intermediate split times, positions and gaps with leaders of the first ten swimmers classified in the 2017 FINA World Swimming Championships races were collected from the public domain and were related to the finishing positions. Overall swimming velocities of the 5-km races were faster than the 10-km (d 0.03 0.03 m/s) and the 25-km (d 0.14 0.01 m/s) events with male swimmers achieving relatively faster mean velocities than females in the 5-km (d 0.12 0.01 m/s) compared to the 25-km (d 0.08 0.01 m/s) events. Medallist swimmers achieved moderate faster overall velocities than finalists in the 25- km races (0.01 0.01 m/s) only. Inter-level differences were detected in selected splits for each race distance. Pacing profiles presented lap to lap velocity improvements in the 5-km and men’s 10-km races (from C0.02 0.00 to C0.11 0.01 m/s) but also midrace decreases in the women’s 10-km and on the 25-km races. Successful swimmers were located in the leading positions of the 5-km races but at mid-group in the first part of the 10-km and 25-km races, with time gaps with leaders of 15–20 s. Faster lap swimming velocities, mid-race leading positions and shorter time-gaps were only related to the finishing positions in the last lap of the 10-km and in the three last laps of the 25-km events, but also in the first lap of the women’s 5-km race. Despite different midrace positioning, successful open water swimmers typically presented negative pacing profiles, a consistent control of mid-race gaps with leaders (15–20 s maximum) and great spurts (4–6% faster than mean race velocities) at the end of races. Coaches and swimmers should be aware of the different race dynamics depending to the event distance in order to select optimal race strategies.Item Relationships between Strength and Step Frequency with Fatigue Index in Repeated Sprint Ability.(International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021) González Frutos, Pablo; Aguilar Navarro, Millán; Morencos Martínez, Esther; Mallo, Javier; Veiga, SantiagoForce−velocity profile (FVP) and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) tests are indicators of physical capacities in most team sport players. The purpose of this study was to examine the stride kinematics during a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test and to analyze the relationship between Bosco’s force−velocity profile (FVP) and RSA performance in elite female field hockey players. Thirteen elite-female players performed both RSA (six 30 m maximal sprints) and jumping (CMJ weighted and body weight) tests. Sprinting time fatigue indexes during a 30 m RSA test were correlated with step frequency fatigue indexes (r > 0.7; p < 0.01). CMJ50 showed a large relationship with sprint time fatigue indexes. FV50 showed a very large relationship with sprint time fatigue indexes (r > 0.7; p < 0.01), and a large relationship with the step frequency fatigue indexes (r > 0.5; p < 0.05). This study highlighted two possible ways to improve fatigue indexes in RSA, with the aim of maximizing the distances covered at high-intensities during the matches: (a) strength training and (b) focusing on step frequency during speed training.Item Spatiotemporal Comparisons Between Elite and High-Level 60 m Hurdlers.(Frontiers in Psychology, 2019) González Frutos, Pablo; Veiga, Santiago; Mallo, Javier; Navarro, EnriqueItem The Transition from Underwater to Surface Swimming During the Push-off Start in Competitive Swimmers.(Journal of Human Kinetics, 2020) Trinidad Morales, Alfonso; Veiga, Santiago; Navarro, Enrique; Lorenzo, AlbertoThe objective of the present study was to analyze (based on gender and the style of swimming) the kinematic parameters of the transition phase between underwater swimming and surface swimming after the push-off start in competitive national swimmers. Seventy-four swimmers participating in the Spanish Swimming Championships were filmed and analyzed by DLT-2D photogrammetry during the start with the push-off in crawl, backstroke and butterfly styles. Between genders there were small differences in the distance and speed of transition. The male swimmers travelled greater distances (0.84 ± 0.04 vs. 0.66 ± 0.04 m, η2 = 0.05, F = 10.34, p < 0.001) and they were faster (1.59 ± 0.03 vs. 1.38 ± 0.03 m/s, η2 = 0.08, F = 19.54, p < 0.001) in the transition phase than female swimmers. Among styles there were greater differences in time (η2 = 0.47, F = 94.50, p < 0.001) and transition distance (η2 = 0.38, F = 67.08, p < 0.001), than in speed (η2 = 0.05, F = 5.63, p < 0.001). During the backstroke push-off, swimmers spent more time (0.88 ± 0.04 s) and distance (1.17 ± 0.05 m), this being the slowest style (1.37 ± 0.04 m/s). In butterfly, athletes used less time (0.26 ± 0.03 s) and distance (0.39 ± 0.05 m) whereas crawl was the fastest of all (1.57 ± 0.04 m/s). These results allow the phase of transition from underwater to surface swimming to be characterized and to provide useful data for competitive swimmers and coaches to improve performance.