Introduction: The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) has been proposed as a valid index for the objective estimation of cardiopulmonary function during submaximallaboratory testing (Baba et al. 1996). OUES is strongly correlated with maximal oxygen uptake (V0 2max) and has been observed to reach its highest and leveling off values (plateau-OUEP) near the anaerobic threshold (AT) in patients with cardiorespiratory disease and normal subjects (Sun, Hansen & Stringer 2012). However, OUES and OUEP have never been studied in highly trained athletes, particularly swimmers. The purpose of this study was to compare the velocity and oxygen uptake efficiency (QUE) values obtained during OUEP and individual anaerobic threshold (!AnT) in well trained swimmers. Methods: Eight female endurance swimmers (17.5 ± 1.9 yrs, 1.71 ± 0.06 m, 62.1 ± 6.2 kg) performed an intermittent incremental swimming step test (7 x 200 m, with increments of 0.05 m/s and 30 s intervals). OUES was calculated by the ratio of oxygen uptake and minute ventilation. The IAnT was determined by the velocity vs. lactate curve modeling method. ANOVA for repeated measures and regression analysis were performed to test differences between methods {p<0.05). Results: Similar velocity (1.20 ± 0.05 vs. 1.22 ± 0.05 m/s ) and OUE values (43.9 ± 5.83 vs. 42.9 ± 5.8 ml V02.L VE- 1) were obtained during OUEP and IAnT calculated intensities, respectively. Regarding the Passing & Bablok regression analysis and the Pearson's coefficient of determination, velocity (Intercept A= -0.096, Slope B= 1.071, R2= 0.638, p<0.017) and OUE values (Intercept A= -5.360, Slope B= 1.154, R2= 0.875, p<0.001) obtained both at the OUEP and at the IAnT were highly correlated. Conclusion: These findings suggest that OUEP has a practical application in swimming as a noninvasive submaximal index closely related to the IAnT in well-trained female endurance swimmers.
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