Anaerobic Threshold Biophysical Characterisation of the Four Swimming
                    Techniques

AbstractThe anaerobic threshold (AnT) seems to be not only a physiologic boundary but also a transition after which swimmers technique changes, modifying their biomechanical behaviour. We expanded the AnT concept to a biophysical construct in the four conventional swimming techniques. Seventy-two elite swimmers performed a 5×200 m incremental protocol in their preferred swimming technique (with a 0.05 m·s−1 increase and a 30 s interval between steps). A capillary blood samples were collected from the fingertip and stroke rate (SR) and length (SL) determined for the assessment of [La], SR and SL vs. velocity inflexion points (using the interception of a pair of linear and exponential regression curves). The [La] values at the AnT were 3.3±1.0, 3.9±1.1, 2.9±1 .34 and 4.5±1.4 mmol·l−1 (mean±SD) for front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, and its corresponding velocity correlated highly with those at SR and SL inflection points (r=0.91–0.99, p<0.001). The agreement analyses confirmed that AnT represents a biophysical boundary in the four competitive swimming techniques and can be determined individually using [La] and/or SR/SL. Blood lactate increase speed can help characterise swimmers’ anaerobic behaviour after AnT and between competitive swimming techniques.

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Swimming Phase-Based Performance Evaluation Using a Single IMU in Main Swimming Techniques

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology ◽

10.3389/fbioe.2021.793302 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Mahdi Hamidi Rad ◽

Kamiar Aminian ◽

Vincent Gremeaux ◽

Fabien Massé ◽

Farzin Dadashi

Keyword(s):

Performance Evaluation ◽

Measurement Unit ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Wide Range ◽

Elite Swimmers ◽

Motion Characteristics ◽

Selection Operator ◽

Swimming Technique ◽

Selection Of

Comprehensive monitoring of performance is essential for swimmers and swimming coaches to optimize the training. Regardless of the swimming technique, the swimmer passes various swimming phases from wall to wall, including a dive into the water or wall push-off, then glide and strokes preparation and finally, swimming up to the turn. The coach focuses on improving the performance of the swimmer in each of these phases. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of using a sacrum-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU) for performance evaluation in each swimming phase (wall push-off, glide, stroke preparation and swimming) of elite swimmers in four main swimming techniques (i.e. front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke). Nineteen swimmers were asked to wear a sacrum IMU and swim four one-way 25 m trials in each technique, attached to a tethered speedometer and filmed by cameras in the whole lap as reference systems. Based on the literature, several goal metrics were extracted from the instantaneous velocity (e.g. average velocity per stroke cycle) and displacement (e.g. time to reach 15 m from the wall) data from a tethered speedometer for the swimming phases, each one representing the goodness of swimmer’s performance. Following a novel approach, that starts from swimming bout detection and continues until detecting the swimming phases, the IMU kinematic variables in each swimming phase were extracted. The highly associated variables with the corresponding goal metrics were detected by LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) variable selection and used for estimating the goal metrics with a linear regression model. The selected kinematic variables were relevant to the motion characteristics of each phase (e.g. selection of propulsion-related variables in wall push-off phase), providing more interpretability to the model. The estimation reached a determination coefficient (R2) value more than 0.75 and a relative RMSE less than 10% for most goal metrics in all swimming techniques. The results show that a single sacrum IMU can provide a wide range of performance-related swimming kinematic variables, useful for performance evaluation in four main swimming techniques.

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Metabolic Power, Active Drag, Mechanical and Propelling Efficiency of Elite Swimmers at 100 Meter Events in Different Competitive Swimming Techniques

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11188511 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (18) ◽

pp. 8511

Author(s):

Sergei Kolmogorov ◽

Andrei Vorontsov ◽

João Paulo Vilas-Boas

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Efficiency ◽

Step Test ◽

Swimming Velocity ◽

Metabolic Power ◽

Competitive Swimming ◽

Elite Swimmers ◽

Propelling Efficiency ◽

Preparation Period ◽

Swimming Technique ◽

Active Drag

Eight elite swimmers—four females and four males—were studied, each of whom specialized in different swimming techniques and ranked among the top 10 in the world in the 100 m event in their swimming specialty. Methods included a complex of physiological, biomechanical and hydrodynamic procedures, as well as mathematical modeling. During the special preparation period for the 2017 Swimming World Championship, all subjects performed an 8 × 100 m swimming step-test using their main swimming technique. The relationships between velocity, mechanical and metabolic power were obtained and analyzed for each swimming technique. It was found that, at the last stage of the test, in all swimming techniques, men demonstrated higher values of metabolic power (Pai = 3346–3560 W) and higher mechanical efficiency (eg = 0.062–0.068) than women (Pai = 2248–2575 W; eg = 0.049–0.052). As for propelling efficiency, women (ep = 0.67–0.71) and men (ep = 0.65–0.71) did not differ from each other. Results showed that the frontal component of active drag force is the main reason for the existing differences in maximal swimming velocity between different techniques, since no relevant differences were observed for mechanical and propelling efficiencies among swimming techniques.

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Effect of training using the technology of teaching basic competitive swimming techniques to children with cerebral palsy

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v43i0.87122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 728-734

Author(s):

Paweł Radziejowski ◽

Oleksandr Tomenko ◽

Vasyl Bosko ◽

Svitlana Korol ◽

Volodymyr Serhiienko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Technology Implementation ◽

Social Adaptation ◽

Expert Assessment ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Competitive Swimming ◽

Motor Disturbance ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Swimming Technique ◽

Modelo Pedagógico

Purpose: According to many scholars, sport is essential for social adaptation and integration of people with disabilities. Therefore, it is important to research innovative technologies for teaching competitive swimming technique to 8-10-year- old children with cerebral palsy. The aim of this study is to develop the technology of teaching competitive swimming techniques to children with cerebral palsy and to evaluate its effectiveness for mastering the front crawl swimming technique. Materials and methods: analysis of scientific literature, questionnaires (e-correspondence), pedagogical experiment, expert survey, determination of the coefficient of technique efficiency, statistical methods. A total of 15 qualified swimming coaches participated in this study. The experiment involved 29 children who were diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Results: the main means of technology implementation is the web-based information system SwimCP (Swimming with Cerebral Palsy), which promotes effective swimming teaching for children with cerebral palsy at the initial stage of sports training by selecting and recommending an approximate complex of exercises that take into account the peculiarities of motor disturbance in accordance with the specific form of cerebral palsy and the stage of motor activity training. Conclusion: using expert assessment and the coefficient of swimming technique efficiency determination, it is confirmed that the proposed technology of teaching basic competitive swimming techniques to children with cerebral palsy is effective. Resumen: Objetivo: Según muchos estudiosos destacados, el deporte es fundamental para la adaptación social y la integración de las personas con discapacidad. Por lo tanto, es importante investigar modelos innovadores para enseñar brazadas de natación competitiva a niños con parálisis cerebral. El objetivo del estudio es diseñar el modelo pedagógico de enseñanza de los estilos básicos de natación competitiva a niños con parálisis cerebral y evaluar su efectividad para dominar el estilo de natación estilo crol. Material y métodos: Se utilizó una metodología de investigación selectiva. Implicó la recopilación directa de datos gracias a la encuesta a los participantes. Los resultados mostraron que el nivel de dominio de la brazada de natación utilizado por los niños que aplicaron este modelo diseñado fue objetivamente mayor en comparación con los mismos indicadores de entrenamiento relacionados con el método tradicional. Conclusiones: Basándonos en la evaluación de la eficiencia de la brazada de natación, creemos que el modelo pedagógico propuesto de enseñar las brazadas básicas de natación competitiva a niños con parálisis cerebral es eficaz.

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Coordination in Front Crawl in Elite Triathletes and Elite Swimmers

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-2002-20126 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 99-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

G. P. Millet ◽

D. Chollet ◽

S. Chalies ◽

J. C. Chatard

Keyword(s):

Front Crawl ◽

Elite Swimmers

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Blood Lactate and Stroke Parameters During Front Crawl in Elite Swimmers With Disability

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/00124278-200202000-00015 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 97-102

Author(s):

DAVID J. BENTLEY ◽

GARY PHILLIPS ◽

LARS R. MCNAUGHTON ◽

ALAN M. BATTERHAM

Keyword(s):

Blood Lactate ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Elite Swimmers

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Maximal Heart Rate for Swimmers

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports7110235 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 235 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bjørn Harald Olstad ◽

Veronica Bjørlykke ◽

Daniela Schäfer Olstad

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Step Test ◽

Maximal Heart Rate ◽

Test Protocol ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Running Training ◽

Elite Swimmers ◽

Rate Test ◽

The Difference

The main purpose of this study was to identify whether a different protocol to achieve maximal heart rate should be used in sprinters when compared to middle-distance swimmers. As incorporating running training into swim training is gaining increased popularity, a secondary aim was to determine the difference in maximal heart rate between front crawl swimming and running among elite swimmers. Twelve elite swimmers (4 female and 8 male, 7 sprinters and 5 middle-distance, age 18.8 years and body mass index 22.9 kg/m2) swam three different maximal heart rate protocols using a 50 m, 100 m and 200 m step-test protocol followed by a maximal heart rate test in running. There were no differences in maximal heart rate between sprinters and middle-distance swimmers in each of the swimming protocols or between land and water (all p ≥ 0.05). There were no significant differences in maximal heart rate beats-per-minute (bpm) between the 200 m (mean ± SD; 192.0 ± 6.9 bpm), 100 m (190.8 ± 8.3 bpm) or 50 m protocol (191.9 ± 8.4 bpm). Maximal heart rate was 6.7 ± 5.3 bpm lower for swimming compared to running (199.9 ± 8.9 bpm for running; p = 0.015). We conclude that all reported step-test protocols were suitable for achieving maximal heart rate during front crawl swimming and suggest that no separate protocol is needed for swimmers specialized on sprint or middle-distance. Further, we suggest conducting sport-specific maximal heart rate tests for different sports that are targeted to improve the aerobic capacity among the elite swimmers of today.

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Performance of Young Male Swimmers in the 100-Meters Front Crawl

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.22.2.278 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 278-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Fabrício de Mello Vitor ◽

Maria Tereza Silveira Böhme

Keyword(s):

Critical Speed ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Anaerobic Power ◽

Young Male ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Physiological Factors ◽

Average Speed ◽

Technical Factors ◽

Swimming Technique

Youth swimming performance may be influenced by anthropometric, physiology and technical factors. The present paper examined the role of these factors in performance of 100m freestyle in swimmers 12–14 years of age (n = 24). Multiple regression analysis (forward method) was used to examine the variance of the 100 meters front crawl. Anaerobic power, swimming index and critical speed explained 88% (p < .05) of the variance in the average speed of 100 meters front crawl among young male pubertal swimmers. To conclude, performance of young swimmers in the 100 meters front crawl is determined predominantly by physiological factors and swimming technique.

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Blood Lactate Concentration and Clearance in Elite Swimmers During Competition

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.6.1.106 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 106-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jason D. Vescovi ◽

Olesya Falenchuk ◽

Greg D. Wells

Keyword(s):

Blood Lactate ◽

Lactate Concentration ◽

Blood Lactate Concentration ◽

Active Recovery ◽

Competitive Swimming ◽

Elite Swimmers ◽

Lactate Removal ◽

The Relationship ◽

Competitive Swimmers ◽

Effect Of Age

Purpose:Blood lactate concentration, [BLa], after swimming events might be influenced by demographic features and characteristics of the swim race, whereas active recovery enhances blood lactate removal. Our aims were to (1) examine how sex, age, race distance, and swim stroke influenced [BLa] after competitive swimming events and (2) develop a practical model based on recovery swim distance to optimize blood lactate removal.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed postrace [BLa] from 100 swimmers who competed in the finals at the Canadian Swim Championships. [BLa] was also assessed repeatedly during the active recovery. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the relationship between postrace [BLa] with independent variables.Results:Postrace [BLa] was highest following 100–200 m events and lowest after 50 and 1500 m races. A sex effect for postrace [BLa] was observed only for freestyle events. There was a negligible effect of age on postrace [BLa]. A model was developed to estimate an expected change in [BLa] during active recovery (male = 0; female = 1): [BLa] change after active recovery = –3.374 + (1.162 × sex) + (0.789 × postrace [BLa]) + (0.003 × active recovery distance).Conclusions:These findings indicate that swimmers competing at an elite standard display similar postrace [BLa] and that there is little effect of age on postrace [BLa] in competitive swimmers aged 14 to 29 y.

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