Effects of kettlebell swing training on cardiorespiratory and metabolic demand to a simulated competition in young female artistic gymnasts

We examined the effects of adding a Kettlebell Swing training program (KB) to the regular skill-training protocol (REGULAR) on cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiorespiratory/metabolic demand, and recovery to a simulated competition of female artistic gymnastics. Nine gymnasts (13±2 years) had their REGULAR complemented with a 4-week kettlebell training (REGULAR+KB), consisting of 3 sessions/week of 12x30"swings x 30"rest with of their body weight, while 9 aged-matched gymnasts acted as a comparison group. Peak oxygen uptake (V_ O2ext) during routines was estimated from the O2 recovery curve using backward extrapolation and off-kinetics parameters were modeled through a mono-exponential function. Heart rate (HR) was monitored continuously and capillary blood lactate (BLa -) was measured before and after each routine (1st and 3rd min). Cardiorespiratory fitness (V_ O2 max) was evaluated using a ramp cycle ergometer test. A training-by-time interaction effect was observed for V_ O2max (p = 0.009) as increments were only observed after REGULAR+KB (M = 8.85, SD = 9.67 ml.kg.min-1). No training-by-time interactions were observed for HRpeak (p = 0.39), V_ O2 ext (p = 0.07), or La- post3 (p = 0.25), both training protocols reduced HRpeak (M = -12; SD = 11 b.min-1) and BLa- post1 (M = -0.70; SD = 1.29 mmol.L-1) during the simulated competition, but not relative V_ O2ext. No training-by-time interaction was observed for the offtransient V_ O2 time constant (p = 0.38). V_ O2 recovery was slower (M = 5; SD = 10 s) after both protocols. Both training protocols improved cardiorespiratory and metabolic demands and recovery kinetics to a simulated competition of female artistic gymnastics, although increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were only observed in REGULAR+KB.