Using EMS for recovery and lactate removal after sprint swimming

Published by meseista on July 24, 2023

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Neric et al., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Dec 2009, Volume 23(9) pp. 2560-2567.

A study by Neric et al. (2008) aimed to evaluate the effect of active recovery with electrical stimulation compared to submaximal swimming recovery and passive resting recovery following sprint swimming. The high-intensity nature of sprint swimming leads to elevated blood lactate, a substance that is a byproduct of glucose utilization by muscle cells. Active exercise recovery has been shown to lower lactate faster than passive resting recovery, however, may not always be practical.

Within the context of competitive swimming, it is possible that an athlete will complete two or more intense events separated by no more than 30 minutes and will therefore be unable to sufficiently recover before the next event. There is concern that elevated muscle and blood lactate levels after one event, if not reduced to near resting levels before the next event, may negatively affect subsequent performance. During competitive swimming performances, the preference would be to use a swimming recovery or warm-down between events. However, there are instances where there is no pool available for a sufficient swimming recovery, so alternative recovery treatments become important.

The study examined 30 competitive swimmers and blood lactate levels were tested before and immediately after a 200-yard swimming sprint, as well as after 10 minutes (‘mid-recovery’) and 20 minutes (‘post-recovery) of recovery (either rest, active recovery or electrical stimulation.

Submaximal swimming (active recovery) proved to be most effective at lowering blood lactate, however, electrical muscle stimulation also produced significantly better lactate reduction compared to resting recovery after 20 minutes. The study concluded that electrical muscle stimulation shows promise as an alternate recovery treatment for the purpose of lowering blood lactate, such as in situations in which the athlete has limited access to active recovery facilities (e.g. pool), is physically or psychologically exhausted and not motivated to continue to exercise, or simply seeks an alternate recovery treatment.

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