Dry-Land Strength Training vs. Electrical Stimulation in Sprint Swimming Performance

Abstract The aim of the study was to examine the impact of selected water- and dry-land predictors of 50-m front crawl performance among 27 male swimmers aged 19.3 ± 2.67 years. The following water tests were performed: front crawl tethered arm stroking in a water flume (flow velocity: 0.9 m·s–1) and leg tethered flutter kicking in a swimming pool. Anaerobic tests on dry land included arm cranking and a set of 10 countermovement jumps. The maximal and average forces generated by legs in tethered swimming (Fl max and Fl ave) turned out to be the strongest predictors of sprint swimming aptitude. These values were strongly correlated with total speed (Vtotal50) (r = 0.49, p < 0.05 and r = 0.54, p < 0.01, respectively), start, turn, and finishing speed (VSTF) (r = 0.60, p < 0.01 and r = 0.67, p < 0.01, respectively). The relationship of Fl max and Fl ave with surface speed (Vsurface) was moderate (r = 0.33, non-significant and r = 0.41, p < 0.05, respectively). The maximal force generated by arms (Fa max) during flume tethered swimming significantly influenced Vsurface and Vtotal50 (0.51, p < 0.01 and 0.47, p < 0.05, respectively). Its relationship with VSTF was close to significant (0.36, p = 0.07). Upper and lower limb dry-land tests showed lower and more holistic relationships with the 50-m front crawl race, however, being a good complement to overall fitness assessment. Specific in-water evaluation, especially the newly prepared flutter kicking test, as well as dry-land tests, can be applied to regularly monitor progress in swimming training, and to identify talented swimmers.

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Strength-Training Periodization: No Effect on Swimming Performance in Well-Trained Adolescent Swimmers

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2019-0715 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1272-1280

Author(s):

Moritz Schumann ◽

Hannah Notbohm ◽

Simon Bäcker ◽

Jan Klocke ◽

Stefan Fuhrmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Strength Training ◽

Blood Lactate ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Whole Body ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Dry Land ◽

Body Strength ◽

Lower Body Strength ◽

Experimental Group

Purpose: To assess the effects of periodized versus nonperiodized dry-land strength training (DLST) on indices of swimming performance in well-trained adolescent swimmers. Methods: Sixteen athletes (10 boys and 6 girls; age 14.9 [1.1] y) performed similar endurance training for 16 weeks (29.1 [7.5] km·wk−1). During weeks 1 to 7, all athletes additionally performed 2 or 3 times weekly whole-body DLST (3 × 6–10 repetitions at 75–85% 1-repetition maximum [1RM]). Thereafter, the DLST frequency was maintained, but athletes were stratified into periodized (experimental, n = 9) and nonperiodized (control, n = 7) DLST groups. The experimental group performed maximal (3 × 3–4 repetitions at 85–90% 1RM) and explosive DLST (throws and unloaded jumps), while in the control group, DLST was maintained. Results: Swimming time at 4 mmol·L−1 of blood lactate improved after 7 weeks in both the experimental (+2.6% [1.8%], P = .033) and the control groups (+3.2% [2.4%], P = .081) and plateaued thereafter. Ten-meter start improved in both the experimental (−3.6% [2.5%], P = .039) and the control groups (−5.1% [2.2%], P = .054) throughout the entire intervention. Both groups improved in maximal weight lifted in half-squat (experimental, +19.6% [14.9%], P = .021; control, +25.7% [18.4%], P = .054) and bench press (experimental, +14.1% [4.8%], P = .018; control, +19.3% [11.1%], P = .051). Countermovement-jump height increased only in the experimental group throughout the intervention (+19.4% [7.0%], P = .024). The associations for the pooled changes in half-squat performance and 4 mmol·L−1 of blood lactate were statistically significant (r = .560, P = .024). Conclusions: The findings do not support the superior effects of DLST periodization in adolescent swimmers. However, the association between improvements in lower-body strength and swimming performance still indicates the importance of muscle strength in this age group.

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Effects of Weight Assisted Dry-Land Strength Training on Swimming Performance

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/1533-4287(1994)008<0203:eowadl>2.3.co;2 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 209

Author(s):

Scott W. Trappe ◽

David R. Pearson

Keyword(s):

Strength Training ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Dry Land

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In-Season Strength Training in Elite Junior Swimmers: The Role of the Low-Volume, High-Velocity Training on Swimming Performance

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2020-0015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 71-84

Author(s):

Mário C. Marques ◽

Juan Manuel Yáñez-García ◽

Daniel A. Marinho ◽

Juan José González-Badillo ◽

David Rodríguez-Rosell

Keyword(s):

Strength Training ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Dynamic Strength ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Strength And Conditioning ◽

Dry Land ◽

Pooled Data ◽

Low Volume ◽

Maximal Dynamic Strength

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of long-term combined strength training (ST) and plyometrics on strength, power and swimming performances in elite junior swimmers during a competitive season. Ten elite junior swimmers (5 women and 5 men) completed the study (age: 16.6 ± 0.7 years; mass: 62.2 ± 5.4 kg; stature: 1.70 ± 0.07 m). The participants trained twice a week during 20 weeks. The ST program consisted of upper- and lower limbs exercises with low loads and low volume, lifting the load at maximal intended velocity. The effect of the training protocol was assessed using the 1RM in the full squat (SQ) and bench press (BP), jump height (CMJ), the maximal number of repetitions completed in the pull-up (PU) exercise and time during 50-m freestyle. Training program resulted in significant improvements in CMJ (12.1%, ES: 0.57), maximal dynamic strength in the SQ (16.4%, ES: 0.46) and BP (12.1%, ES: 0.34) exercises, the maximum number of repetitions completed during the PU test (90.7%, ES: 0.57) and swimming performance (-3.9%, ES: 0.45). There were no significant differences between both genders. The relative changes in swimming performance showed significant relationship with the relative changes in 1RM of SQ for pooled data (r=-0.66, p<0.05) and the relative changes in the PU exercise in female swimmers (r=-0.99, p<0.05). Therefore, coaches and strength and conditioning professionals should consider including in-season dry-land ST programs within the training routine in order to obtain further improvements in swimming performance.

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Effects of dry-land strength training on swimming performance: a brief review

Journal of Human Sport and Exercise ◽

10.4100/jhse.2012.72.18 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 553-559 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Pedro G. Morouço ◽

Daniel Almeida Marinho ◽

Nuno Miguel Amaro ◽

José Antonio Pérez-Turpin ◽

Mário Cardoso Marques

Keyword(s):

Strength Training ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Dry Land

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Can fat-free mass gains induced by dry-land resistance training periodization affect negatively swimming performance?

Sport Sciences for Health ◽

10.1007/s11332-021-00809-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vinicius L. J. da Silva ◽

Marcelo A. S. Carneiro ◽

Laura S. Greve ◽

Edmar L. Mendes

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Swimming Performance ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Dry Land

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Changes in H reflex and neuromechanical properties of the trapezius muscle after 5 weeks of eccentric training: a randomized controlled trial

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00164.2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 116 (12) ◽

pp. 1623-1631 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Steffen Vangsgaard ◽

Janet L. Taylor ◽

Ernst A. Hansen ◽

Pascal Madeleine

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Strength Training ◽

Reference Group ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Trapezius Muscle ◽

Training Group ◽

H Reflex ◽

Eccentric Training ◽

Voluntary Activity ◽

Stimulation Of

Trapezius muscle Hoffman (H) reflexes were obtained to investigate the neural adaptations induced by a 5-wk strength training regimen, based solely on eccentric contractions of the shoulder muscles. Twenty-nine healthy subjects were randomized into an eccentric training group ( n = 15) and a reference group ( n = 14). The eccentric training program consisted of nine training sessions of eccentric exercise performed over a 5-wk period. H-reflex recruitment curves, the maximal M wave (Mmax), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, rate of force development (RFD), and electromyographic (EMG) voluntary activity were recorded before and after training. H reflexes were recorded from the middle part of the trapezius muscle by electrical stimulation of the C3/4 cervical nerves; Mmax was measured by electrical stimulation of the accessory nerve. Eccentric strength training resulted in significant increases in the maximal trapezius muscle H reflex (Hmax) (21.4% [5.5–37.3]; P = 0.01), MVC force (26.4% [15.0–37.7]; P < 0.01), and RFD (24.6% [3.2–46.0]; P = 0.025), while no significant changes were observed in the reference group. Mmax remained unchanged in both groups. A significant positive correlation was found between the change in MVC force and the change in EMG voluntary activity in the training group ( r = 0.57; P = 0.03). These results indicate that the net excitability of the trapezius muscle H-reflex pathway increased after 5 wk of eccentric training. This is the first study to investigate and document changes in the trapezius muscle H reflex following eccentric strength training.

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