title: Physiological Adaptations to Training in Competitive Swimming: A Systematic Review.
abstract: The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize longitudinal studies on swimming physiology and get implications for daily practice. A computerized search of databases according to the PRISMA statement was employed. Studies were screened for eligibility on inclusion criteria: (i) present two testing points; (ii) on swimming physiology; (iii) using adult elite swimmers; (iv) no case-studies or with small sample sizes. Two independent reviewers used a checklist to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Thirty-four studies selected for analysis were gathered into five main categories: blood composition (n=7), endocrine secretion (n=11), muscle biochemistry (n=7), cardiovascular response (n=8) and the energetic profile (n=14). The mean quality index was 10.58 ± 2.19 points demonstrating an almost perfect agreement between reviewers (K = 0.93). It can be concluded that the mixed findings in the literature are due to the diversity of the experimental designs. Micro variables obtained at the cellular or molecular level are sensitive measures and demonstrate overtraining signs and health symptoms. The improvement of macro variables (i.e. main physiological systems) is limited and may depend on the athletes' training background and experience.
authors.affiliation: Sports Science Department, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Portugal; Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development, CIDESD, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Govindasamy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balasekaran
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, LABIOMEP, University of Porto, Portugal; Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Portugal.
authors.forename: J Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development, CIDESD, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tiago M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
keywords: exercise; longitudinal; physiology; studies; swimming
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