Advisability on the shift from standard front crawl swimming technique to the “kayaking” and “loping” variants

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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Intra-cyclic analysis of the front crawl swimming technique with an inertial measurement unit

Journal of Human Sport and Exercise ◽

10.14198/jhse.2022.173.17 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

Author(s):

André Engel ◽

Nina Schaffert ◽

Roy Ploigt ◽

Klaus Mattes

Keyword(s):

Inertial Measurement Unit ◽

Measurement Unit ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Inertial Measurement ◽

Swimming Technique

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Comparative Analysis of Active Drag Using the MAD System and an Assisted Towing Method in Front Crawl Swimming

Journal of Applied Biomechanics ◽

10.1123/jab.28.6.746 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 746-750 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Danielle P. Formosa ◽

Huub M. Toussaint ◽

Bruce R. Mason ◽

Brendan Burkett

Keyword(s):

Time Profile ◽

Maximum Speed ◽

Free Swimming ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Two Systems ◽

The Mean ◽

Force Time ◽

Swimming Style ◽

Swimming Technique ◽

Active Drag

The measurement of active drag in swimming is a biomechanical challenge. This research compared two systems: (i) measuring active drag (MAD) and (ii) assisted towing method (ATM). Nine intermediate-level swimmers (19.7 ± 4.4 years) completed front crawl trials with both systems during one session. The mean (95% confidence interval) active drag for the two systems, at the same maximum speed of 1.68 m/s (1.40–1.87 m/s), was significantly different (p= .002) with a 55% variation in magnitude. The mean active drag was 82.3 N (74.0–90.6 N) for the MAD system and 148.3 N (127.5–169.1 N) for the ATM system. These differences were attributed to variations in swimming style within each measurement system. The inability to measure the early catch phase and kick, along with the fixed length and depth hand place requirement within the MAD system generated a different swimming technique, when compared with the more natural free swimming ATM protocol. A benefit of the MAD system was the measurement of active drag at various speeds. Conversely, the fixed towing speed of the ATM system allowed a natural self-selected arm stroke (plus kick) and the generation of an instantaneous force-time profile.

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Integral indicators of the swimming techniques effectiveness of highly qualified crawl-stroke swimmers

Pedagogics psychology medical-biological problems of physical training and sports ◽

10.15561/18189172.2019.0402 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 169-175

Author(s):

A.I. Krylov ◽

A.A. Gorelov ◽

A.A. Tretyakov

Keyword(s):

Driving Forces ◽

Video Recording ◽

Hydrodynamic Resistance ◽

Highly Qualified ◽

Integral Criterion ◽

Front Crawl ◽

National Team ◽

Dynamic Coordination ◽

Dynamic Index ◽

Swimming Technique

It is known that prominent world-class swimmers are characterized by the manifestation of specific abilities. These abilities allow to constantly maintain a stable speed swimming of different segments of the distance. In this case, highly qualified swimmers can increase the maximum speed of swimming on a segment of a given length. They achieve this by increasing the total external mechanical power. In this case, swimmers keep, and in some cases even reduce the power of the stroke. It is implemented the phase-specific principle of creating driving forces during each phase. At the same time, the principle of creating driving forces is common to all swimming locomotion. The article gives a rationale for the effectiveness of the integral criterion application for evaluating swimming techniques. The integral criterion for evaluating the swimming technique was applied at remote speeds of the entire spectrum of the competitive front crawl swimming program. Material . The study involved 9 highly qualified crawl-stroke swimmers, members of Russia national team. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 24 years. It is studied the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the front crawl swimming technique of highly qualified athletes at various competitive distances. The studies applied video recording of swimmer’s movements with OLYMPUS TG-5 camera (Vietnam) from a depth of 4.5 m. Three luminous markers located on the swimmer’s hips were applied to record the dynamic parameters of swimmer’s movements. The results of the swims were processed with Natatometry™ (Russia). Results . It was determined that swimmers demonstrated high indices of the intra-cyclic dynamic index (ICDI - Intra Cycle Dynamic Index) and the dynamic coordination index of the swimming cycle (DCI - Dynamic Coordination Index) at speeds in medium distances relative to speeds at sprint distances. Swimmers demonstrate the ability to generate a significant amount of promotional efforts at 100 m distance that ensure the achievement of high speeds. It is established that no general trends in ICDI changes in individual structural phases of the stroke. This indicates the demonstration of individual specific features in the swimming technique of each athlete. Conclusion . It is considered the feasibility of applying the integral indicators ICDI and DCI for a quantitative assessment of the intra cycle promotion forces interaction and hydrodynamic resistance forces arising at the level of an integral biomechanical system of the swimming cycle.

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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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Anaerobic Threshold Biophysical Characterisation of the Four Swimming Techniques

International Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1055/a-0975-9532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (05) ◽

pp. 318-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Diogo Duarte Carvalho ◽

Susana Soares ◽

Rodrigo Zacca ◽

João Sousa ◽

Daniel Almeida Marinho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Threshold ◽

Capillary Blood ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Competitive Swimming ◽

Exponential Regression ◽

Regression Curves ◽

Inflection Points ◽

Elite Swimmers ◽

Incremental Protocol ◽

Swimming Technique

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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Aerobic Potential, Stroke Parameters, and Coordination in Swimming Front-Crawl Performance

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2.4.347 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 347-359 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Patrick Pelayo ◽

Morgan Alberty ◽

Michel Sidney ◽

François Potdevin ◽

Jeanne Dekerle

Keyword(s):

Exercise Intensity ◽

Training Programs ◽

Physical Stress ◽

Stroke Rate ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Stroke Length ◽

Arm Coordination ◽

Swimming Technique

The purposes of this review were (1) to review the recent studies conducted in swimming on the assessment of aerobic potential and establishment of exercise-intensity domains (it is important that exercise-intensity domains be accurately defined and their physiological underpinnings well understood to optimize and evaluate training programs); (2) to analyze changes in traditionally measured stroke rate and stroke length during exhaustive swims, particularly in relation to the predetermined intensity domains (introduction of an “optimal swimming technique speed”); and (3) to introduce the latest swimming research on arm coordination that might help us better understand the technical adaptations of swimmers under physical stress.

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Changes in Selected Parameters of Swimming Technique in the Back Crawl and the Front Crawl in Young Novice Swimmers

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2013-0037 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 161-171

Author(s):

Damian Jerszyński ◽

Katarzyna Antosiak-Cyrak ◽

Małgorzata Habiera ◽

Krystian Wochna ◽

Elżbieta Rostkowska

Keyword(s):

Cycle Duration ◽

Angle Of Incidence ◽

Front Crawl ◽

Stroke Length ◽

Elbow Angle ◽

Video Cameras ◽

Stroke Cycle ◽

Swimming Technique

The study aimed to examine changes in selected angular characteristics and duration of the stroke cycle in the back crawl and the front crawl in children learning to swim. Nine boys and two girls, aged 8-13 years, performed seven consecutive swimming tests. The children’s movement technique was recorded with the use of three video cameras. The studied parameters included the angle of incidence between the trunk long axis and the waterline, elbow angle, shoulders roll, stroke cycle duration and stroke length. The results illustrate the development of swimming technique in youth swimmers. The results of the present study indicate the variability and phasing of learning of swimming technique by children.

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