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 (VO2max; direct method), maximal anaerobic power (Pmax, force-velocity test), 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/week) and non-active boys (C, n = 11, PA = 3 +/- 2 hrs/week). No significant difference appeared between groups for VO2max (Sw, 50.7 +/- 5.4; A, 50.8 +/- 6.0; C, 49.4 +/- 7.0; ml.min-1 x 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) existed between Pmax, P30s (W.kg-1) and VO2max (ml.min-1 x kg-1): r = 0.37 and r = 0.40, respectively. This indicates that there is neither aerobic nor anaerobic specialization during prepubertal development, and that regular sporting activity induces no great changes in the bioenergetic characteristics of prepubertal boys.