Intermittent vs. continuous tests for monitoring swimming performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

Approach: Intermittent incremental tests (ITT), intermittent tests (IT), and continuous tests (CT) provide physiological parameters along with the corresponding swimming speeds (v), which are valuable for decisionmaking by coaches. Purpose: This study aimed to summarise and compare the effectiveness of ITT, IT, and CT in monitoring physiological parameters – oxygen uptake (VO2), the blood lactate concentration ([La–]), and heart rate (HR) – as well as their associated v. Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched for complete studies published in English, from 1 January 2000 to 24 January 2024. Eleven studies (n = 164 swimmers) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was performed. Results: The results of the studies were homogeneous (p > 0.05) when v was also similar between the tests: ITT compared with CT (7 studies, n = 88 swimmers) VO2 0.03 ± 0.15 mL·kg–1·minute–1, I2 = 0%, p = 0.99; v 0.08 ± 0.14 m·s–1, I2 = 0%, p = 0.89; IT compared with CT (3 studies, n = 44 swimmers) [La–] 0.12 ± 0.21 mmol·L–1, I2 = 0%, p = 0.64; HR –0.32 ± 0.2 beats∙minute–1, I2 = 0%, p = 0.37; v 0.08 ± 0.14 m·s–1, I2 = 0.00%, p = 0.89). Conclusions: The VO2 results for the comparisons between IT and CT, and the [La–] and HR results for comparisons between IT and CT were similar when: (i) the v was also similar between the tests, and (ii) the duration of the tests was long enough to obtain more stable physiological data.