Variability and progression in competitive performance of Paralympic swimmers

Abstract

Analysis of variability and progression in performance of top athletes between competitions provides information about performance targets that is useful for athletes, practitioners, and researchers. In this study, 724 official finals times were analysed for 120 male and 122 female Paralympic swimmers in the 100-m freestyle event at 15 national and international competitions between 2004 and 2006. Separate analyses were performed for males and females in each of four Paralympic subgroups: S2–S4, S5–S7, S8–S10 (most through least physically impaired), and S11–S13 (most through least visually impaired). Mixed modelling of log-transformed times, with adjustment for mean competition times, was used to estimate variability and progression. Within-swimmer race-to-race variability, expressed as a coefficient of variation, ranged from 1.2% (male S5–S7) to 3.7% (male S2–S4). Swimming performance progressed by approximately 0.5% per year for males and females. Typical variation in mean performance time between competitions was ～1% after adjustment for the ability of the athletes in each competition, and the Paralympic Games was the fastest competition. Thus, taking into account variability, progression, and level of competition, Paralympic swimmers who want to increase substantially their medal prospects should aim for an annual improvement of at least 1–2%.     

Physiologic Effects of Distance Running Training on Teenage Females1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate selected physiological changes that occurred with distance training in teenage females. Two groups of untrained teenage females were matched on [Vdot]O₂ max, percent utilization of [Vdot]O ₂ @ 9.66 km/hr, peak heart rate, and percent body fat. One group served as control (n = 9) while the other (n =10) underwent a 20-week training program designed to gradually increase the subjects' average mileage from 0 to 32.2 km per week. At the end of the 20 weeks, a MANOVA revealed significant mean differences within the trained group and no significant mean differences within the control group. The univariate analysis revealed that significant (p <0.05) mean differences found within the training group were for [Vdot]O ₂ max (45.1 vs. 49.3 ml · kg ^–1 · min ^–1 ), percent utilization of [Vdot]O ₂ @9.66 km/hr (76.5% vs. 67.5%), and economy VO ₂ @9.66 km/hr (34.5vs.33.2 ml · kg ^–1 · min ^–1 ). Of the variables which exhibited significant training effects, percent utilization of [Vdot]O ₂ max showed the greatest relative change, a 12.2% decrease, with [Vdot]O ₂ max showing a 9.3% increase. The posttest results were similar to the research literature for training effects found for males and other age groups.     

Smartphone Use at a University Health Science Center

This article describes the results of a survey of library patrons conducted by librarians and information technology specialists at the Health Science Center Libraries at the University of Florida. The purpose of the survey was to learn if and how library patrons were using smartphones to perform their work-related tasks and how patrons felt the library could support smartphone use at the Health Science Center.