{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T05:52:39Z","timestamp":1774936359579,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]],"date-time":"2026-03-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774742400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Physiologia"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) reflects cardiorespiratory fitness, energy metabolism and the residual physiological effects of preceding exercise. We aimed to compare EPOC profiles of master swimmers across different age groups and performance levels. Fourteen male master swimmers performed a 200 m all-out front crawl and breath-by-breath gas exchange and their heart rates were recorded during exercise and for 5 min post-exercise. A single exponential regression model was fitted to the post-exercise oxygen uptake kinetics to determine the EPOC amplitude, time constant and time delay. The EPOC magnitude was calculated as the area under the oxygen uptake\u2013time curve. Swimmers were grouped into younger vs. older and faster vs. slower clusters using the 50th percentile, and the associations between age, performance and physiological variables were examined. Older swimmers were slower and showed a lower peak oxygen uptake than their younger counterparts (213.9 \u00b1 27.9 vs. 165.7 \u00b1 24.9 s and 39.1 \u00b1 4.8 vs. 50.2 \u00b1 8.1 mL\u2219kg\u22121\u2219min\u22121; p &lt; 0.05). Slower swimmers were older and displayed a lower EPOC amplitude than faster performers (69.8 \u00b1 7.3 vs. 45.7 \u00b1 1.7 years and 23.2 \u00b1 4.0 vs. 36.8 \u00b1 10.2 mL\u2219kg\u22121\u2219min\u22121; p &lt; 0.05). Although many of the variables did not differ between groups, effect sizes were moderate to very large (except for time constant and time delay). The swimmers\u2019 age related directly to their performance and inversely to their peak oxygen uptake, peak heart rate and EPOC amplitude, while performance presented inverse associations with peak oxygen uptake, peak heart rate, EPOC amplitude and EPOC magnitude (p &lt; 0.05). Master swimmers of different ages and performance levels exhibited distinct EPOC characteristics, which may provide relevant information regarding the individualisation of training and recovery strategies in this population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/physiologia6020024","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T08:22:36Z","timestamp":1774858956000},"page":"24","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption in Master Swimmers: Age and Performance Effects"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"C\u00e1ssia Daniele Zaleski","family":"Trindade","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Aquatic Sports Research Group, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Felizardo St., 750, Porto Alegre 90010-150, RS, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9649-0643","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cl\u00e1udia Dornelles","family":"Schneider","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Program on Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade de Porto Alegre, Sarmento Leite St., 245, Porto Alegre 90050-170, RS, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0494-0000","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rodrigo","family":"Zacca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Sofia","family":"Monteiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5811-0443","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ricardo J.","family":"Fernandes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0848-8226","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fl\u00e1vio Ant\u00f4nio de Souza","family":"Castro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Aquatic Sports Research Group, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Felizardo St., 750, Porto Alegre 90010-150, RS, Brazil"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1249\/00005768-198401000-00008","article-title":"Metabolic bases of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption: A review","volume":"16","author":"Gaesser","year":"1984","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200131010-00001","article-title":"The Relationship Between Aerobic Fitness and Recovery from High Intensity Intermittent Exercise","volume":"31","author":"Tomlin","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2153","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-013-2646-3","article-title":"Anaerobic alactic energy assessment in middle distance swimming","volume":"113","author":"Sousa","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1809","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-014-2907-9","article-title":"Effect of exercise intensity on post-exercise oxygen consumption and heart rate recovery","volume":"114","author":"Mann","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e15042","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.15042","article-title":"Acute ventilatory responses to swimming at increasing intensities","volume":"11","author":"Monteiro","year":"2023","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1037","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200333140-00002","article-title":"Effect of exercise intensity, duration and mode on post-exercise oxygen consumption","volume":"33","author":"Borsheim","year":"2003","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1247","DOI":"10.1080\/02640410600552064","article-title":"Effects of exercise intensity and duration on the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption","volume":"24","author":"LaForgia","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1113\/EP085014","article-title":"Exercise modality effect on oxygen uptake off-transient kinetics at maximal oxygen uptake intensity","volume":"100","author":"Sousa","year":"2015","journal-title":"Exp. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2069","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001279","article-title":"Energetics, Biomechanics, and Performance in Masters\u2019 Swimmers: A Systematic Review","volume":"30","author":"Ferreira","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Neiva, H.P., Fernandes, R.J., Cardoso, R., Marinho, D.A., and Abraldes, J.A. (2021). Monitoring Master Swimmers\u2019 Performance and Active Drag Evolution along a Training Mesocycle. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18073569"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1002\/jcsm.12238","article-title":"Skeletal muscle performance and ageing","volume":"9","author":"Tieland","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1139\/apnm-2014-0364","article-title":"Relationships between V\u02d9O2 and blood lactate responses after all-out running exercise","volume":"40","author":"Cruz","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.5535\/arm.2015.39.2.155","article-title":"Aging of skeletal muscle fibers","volume":"39","author":"Miljkovic","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann. Rehabil. Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1007\/s11556-008-0041-6","article-title":"Anaerobic performance in masters athletes","volume":"6","author":"Reaburn","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eur. Rev. Aging Phys. Act."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"89","article-title":"VO2FITTING Software: New Insights and Practical Applications (VO2FITTING Software Update)","volume":"97","author":"Monteiro","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Hum. Kinet."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"George, M.A., McLay, K.M., Doyle-Baker, P.K., Reimer, R.A., and Murias, J.M. (2018). Fitness Level and Not Aging per se, Determines the Oxygen Uptake Kinetics Response. Front. Physiol., 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2018.00277"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2308","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000000686","article-title":"Slower VO2 Kinetics in Older Individuals: Is It Inevitable?","volume":"47","author":"Murias","year":"2015","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"546","article-title":"VO2 Off Transient Kinetics in Extreme Intensity Swimming","volume":"10","author":"Sousa","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2021-0451","article-title":"Defining training and performance caliber: A participant classification framework","volume":"17","author":"McKay","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1097\/00005768-199602000-00015","article-title":"Modeled responses to training and taper in competitive swimmers","volume":"28","author":"Mujika","year":"1996","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105005","DOI":"10.1088\/1361-6579\/abb143","article-title":"Post-swim oxygen consumption: Assessment methodologies and kinetics analysis","volume":"41","author":"Monteiro","year":"2020","journal-title":"Physiol. Meas."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7793.2001.t01-1-00891.x","article-title":"Influence of exercise intensity on the on- and off-transient kinetics of pulmonary oxygen uptake in humans","volume":"533","author":"Ozyener","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1010","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0032-1316362","article-title":"Different VO2max time-averaging intervals in swimming","volume":"33","author":"Fernandes","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"390","DOI":"10.1097\/00005768-199703000-00015","article-title":"Metabolic profile of high intensity intermittent exercises","volume":"29","author":"Tabata","year":"1997","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bernards, J.R., Sato, K., Haff, G.G., and Bazyler, C.D. (2017). Current research and statistical practices in sport science and a need for change. Sports, 5.","DOI":"10.3390\/sports5040087"}],"container-title":["Physiologia"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-9488\/6\/2\/24\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T04:16:07Z","timestamp":1774930567000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-9488\/6\/2\/24"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]]},"references-count":25,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["physiologia6020024"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/physiologia6020024","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-9488"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-9488","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]]}}}