Reliability and Validity of a Flume-Based Maximal Oxygen Uptake Swimming Test

A mode-specific swimming protocol to assess maximal aerobic uptake (VO(2)max(sw)) is vital to accurately evaluate swimming performance. A need exists for reliable and valid swimming protocols that assess VO(2)max(sw) in a flume environment. The purpose was to assess: (a) reliability and (b) “performance” validity of a VO(2)max(sw) flume protocol using the 457-m freestyle pool performance swim (PS) test as the criterion. Nineteen males (n = 9) and females (n = 10) (age, 28.5 ± 8.3 years.; height, 174.7 ± 8.2 cm; mass, 72.9 ± 12.5 kg; %body fat, 21.4 ± 5.9) performed two flume VO(2)max(sw) tests (VO(2)max(sw)A and VO(2)max(sw)B) and one PS test [457 m (469.4 ± 94.7 s)]. For test–retest reliability (Trials A vs. B), moderately strong relationships were established for VO(2)max(sw) (mL·kg(−1)·min(−1))(r= 0.628, p = 0.002), O(2)pulse (mL O(2)·beat(−1))(r = 0.502, p = 0.014), VEmax (L·min(−1)) (r = 0.671, p = 0.001), final test time (sec) (0.608, p = 0.004), and immediate post-test blood lactate (IPE (BLa)) (0.716, p = 0.001). For performance validity, moderately strong relationships (p < 0.05) were found between VO(2)max(sw)A (r =−0.648, p = 0.005), O(2)pulse (r= −0.623, p = 0.008), VEmax (r = −0.509 p = 0.037), and 457-m swim times. The swimming flume protocol examined is a reliable and valid assessment of VO(2)max(sw.,) and offers an alternative for military, open water, or those seeking complementary forms of training to improve swimming performance.