BIOENERGETIC CHARACTERISTICS IN PREPUBERTAL SWIMMERS - COMPARISON WITH ACTIVE AND NON-ACTIVE BOYS

The effects of physical activity (PA) on bioenergetic characteristics were studied in 53 prepubertal boys. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2) max; direct method), maximal anaerobic power (Pmax, force-velocity tes t), and mean power in 30 s (P30s, Wingate test) were compared (mean+/- SD) in three groups of boys of the same age (11 years): swimmers (Sw, n = 26, PA = 8+/-3 hrs/week), active boys (A, n = 16, PA = 7+/-2 hrs/w eek) and non-active boys (C, n = 11, PA = 3+/-2 hrs/week). No signific ant difference appeared between groups for VO(2)max (Sw, 50.7+/-5.4; A , 50.8+/-6.0; C, 49.4+/-7.0; ml.min(-1).kg(-1)), Pmax (Sw, 8.1+/-1.4; A, 8.4+/-1.4; C, 8.1+/-1.4; W.kg(-1)) and P30s (SW, 5.8+/-1.0 A, 6.3+/ -1.7; C, 5.0+/-1.1; W.kg(-1)). Significant relationships (p<0.01) exis ted between Pmax, P30s (W.kg(-1)) and VO(2)max (ml.min(-1).kg(-1)): r = 0.37 and r = 0.40, respectively. This indicates that there is neithe r aerobic nor anaerobic specialization during prepubertal development, and that regular sporting activity induces no great changes in the bi oenergetic characteristics of prepubertal boys.