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González-Ravé JM, Santos-Cerro J, González-Megía P, Pyne D. Contributions of each of the four swimming strokes to elite 200-400 individual medley swimming performance in short and long course competitions. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16612. [PMID: 38111656 PMCID: PMC10726738 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The relative contribution of each of the four strokes to performance, and whether these contributions differ substantially between short course and long course competitions is unclear. To clarify these issues the aim of this study was to assess the strokes that have more influence on the performance in the 200 and 400 m IM swimming performances of elite male and female swimmers, participating in major events: Olympic Games (OG) and World Championship (WC) in short-course and long-course from 2012 to 2021. Methods Data from 1,095 swimmers (501 women and 594 men) who competed in 200 and 400-m IM were obtained with a minimum level of 800 FINA points. Linear regression modelling and classification trees were employed to quantify differences between strokes and short/long course swimming. Results Regression analysis indicated that breaststroke (β = - 0.191; p < 0.000) and backstroke (β = - 0.185; p < 0.000) had a bigger effect on IM performance, with butterfly (β = - 0.101; p < 0.000) having a lesser impact. The classification trees showed threshold performance standards in terms of 50-m times in form-stroke events must be fulfilled to attain medal-winning performances. Conclusions These form-stroke standards represent important milestones for designing medal-oriented training strategies for both 200 IM and 400 m IM. Achieving a medallist position in 200 and 400 m IM requires obtaining specified lap times in butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke for males and females in long-course competitions, and breaststroke and backstroke for short-course competitions. The OG presents more exigent demands of lap times in butterfly, crawl and backstroke for IM swimmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María González-Ravé
- Sports Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Patricia González-Megía
- Sports Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Toledo, Spain
| | - David Pyne
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
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2
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Sorgente V, Lopez-Hernandez A, Minciacchi D, González Ravé JM. Diving into Recovery. The Effects of Different Post-Competition Protocols for Enhancing Physio-Psychological Parameters in National Level Youth Swimmers. J Sports Sci Med 2023; 22:739-747. [PMID: 38045753 PMCID: PMC10690518 DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2023.739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether a specific approach regarding active swimming recovery could better promote psycho-physiological recovery right after competing in a high-level swimming race. To achieve this, we recruited 50 national level youth swimmers, randomly and equally assigning them to two groups, named "experimental" and "coach prescribed". Each group performed a specific post-competition recovery protocol, consisting of different swimming paces, rest times, self-management of the exercises. We gathered data about blood lactate (BL), heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) at two different moments, the first moment right after the swimming competition (named post-competition phase), the second moment right after swimming the respective recovery protocol assigned (named post-recovery phase). A mixed MANOVA with Tukey HSD post-hoc analysis revealed no significant differences between the experimental and coach-prescribed groups in BL, HR, and RPE at the post-competition phase. At the post-recovery phase, however, the experimental group presented lower BL levels than the coach-prescribed group (2.40 ± 1.18 vs. 4.29 ± 2.07 mmol/L, p < 0.05). Finally, we found no interaction of swimming race ranking on recovery capacities. We conclude that for immediate improvement of BL in a wide range of high-level swimmers, an efficient recovery protocol should consist of several paces, high volumes, fixed and short rest times, whereas the widely popular self-managed, lower intensity approach does not seem as equally effective. Our study advances the development of novel recommendations for optimizing immediate fatigue management in competitive swimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Sorgente
- Kinesiology and Motor Control (Ki.Mo.Co.) Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Diego Minciacchi
- Kinesiology and Motor Control (Ki.Mo.Co.) Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
| | - José María González Ravé
- Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
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3
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Landen S, Hiam D, Voisin S, Jacques M, Lamon S, Eynon N. Physiological and molecular sex differences in human skeletal muscle in response to exercise training. J Physiol 2023; 601:419-434. [PMID: 34762308 DOI: 10.1113/jp279499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in exercise physiology, such as substrate metabolism and skeletal muscle fatigability, stem from inherent biological factors, including endogenous hormones and genetics. Studies investigating exercise physiology frequently include only males or do not take sex differences into consideration. Although there is still an underrepresentation of female participants in exercise research, existing studies have identified sex differences in physiological and molecular responses to exercise training. The observed sex differences in exercise physiology are underpinned by the sex chromosome complement, sex hormones and, on a molecular level, the epigenome and transcriptome. Future research in the field should aim to include both sexes, control for menstrual cycle factors, conduct large-scale and ethnically diverse studies, conduct meta-analyses to consolidate findings from various studies, leverage unique cohorts (such as post-menopausal, transgender, and those with sex chromosome abnormalities), as well as integrate tissue and cell-specific -omics data. This knowledge is essential for developing deeper insight into sex-specific physiological responses to exercise training, thus directing future exercise physiology studies and practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanie Landen
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Danielle Hiam
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.,Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Macsue Jacques
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Séverine Lamon
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Nir Eynon
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
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Prevalence and Impact of the Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance in Swimming: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010561. [PMID: 34682307 PMCID: PMC8535716 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to examine the prevalence of the relative age effect (RAE) in swimming and its impact on competition performance according to different types of interacting constraints. A systematic literature search, following the PRISMA guidelines for preparing systematic reviews, was performed through four electronic databases, and nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using STROBE, and an average score of 16.2 points was obtained. In these studies, the prevalence of the RAE in swimming was observed in more than half (58.65%) of the participants analysed, and the effect of the RAE was more accentuated in young categories (decreased as age increased and was inverted in older ones) and in male swimmers (double that in female swimmers).The impact of the RAE on competitive performance appeared to be related to the strength demands of the event, as the performance in simultaneous strokes, in shorter events, and of swimmers in the postadolescence period seems to be more affected by the RAE. These results indicate that the RAE in competitive swimming relies on individual and environmental (the swimmer's age group and gender) but also task (the competitive events) determinants or limitations. This should serve as a guide for a more effective design of selection and development procedures for young athletes.
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Reichmuth D, Olstad BH, Born DP. Key Performance Indicators Related to Strength, Endurance, Flexibility, Anthropometrics, and Swimming Performance for Competitive Aquatic Lifesaving. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073454. [PMID: 33810445 PMCID: PMC8038010 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate key performance indicators for the individual pool-based disciplines of competitive lifesaving regarding strength, flexibility, sprint and endurance swimming performance, anthropometric characteristics, and technical skills specific to competitive lifesaving. Data were collected from Swiss national team members (seven males: age 19 ± 2 yrs, body mass 77 ± 11 kg, body height 177 ± 7 cm and seven females age 21 ± 5 yrs, body mass 64 ± 6 kg, body height 171 ± 4 cm) competing at the 2019 European lifesaving championships. Potential key performance indicators were assessed with race times derived from the 2019 long-course season using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Large and significant correlations showed that sprint, i.e., 50 m freestyle performance (r ≥ 0.770), was related to race time of all pool-based disciplines, rather than endurance swimming performance. Additionally, significant correlations revealed upper body strength, i.e., bench press (r ≥ −0.644) and pull (r ≥ −0.697), and leg strength (r ≥ −0.627) as key performance indicators. Importance of the lifesaving-specific skills, anthropometric characteristics, and core strength varied between the disciplines. Flexibility was not significantly related to race times of competitive lifesaving. The present study showed that sprint swimming performance, upper body, and leg strength are particularly important for competitive lifesaving. As other physical and technical requirements varied between the pool-based disciplines, coaches may use the present key performance indicators to establish training guidelines and conditioning programs as well as prioritize skill acquisition in training to specifically prepare athletes for their main disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Reichmuth
- Department for Elite Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen, 2532 Magglingen, Switzerland;
- Swiss Lifesaving Swimming Federation, 6210 Sursee, Switzerland
| | - Bjørn Harald Olstad
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, 0863 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Dennis-Peter Born
- Department for Elite Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen, 2532 Magglingen, Switzerland;
- Section for High-Performance Sports, Swiss Swimming Federation, 3063 Berne, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-79-780-38-47
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Botta de Arruda T, Kalva-Filho CA, Milioni F, Barbieri RA, Bucken Gobbi R, Papoti M. Effects of an experimental taper period on male and female swimmers. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2021; 61:1578-1586. [PMID: 33615760 DOI: 10.23736/s0022-4707.21.11991-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the possible influence of the gender on the responses of swimmers during a taper period (TP). METHODS Ten males (19 ± 3 years and 73.5 ± 7.8 kg) and ten females (17 ± 2 years and 54.7 ± 7.2 kg) swimmers were submitted to a 12-week training, followed by three weeks of the TP. Before and after the TP we evaluated the performance at 100 m freestyle, stroke parameters and lactacidemic responses; lactate minimum intensity (LMI) and stroke parameters associated with LMI and the propulsive force in tethered swimming. TP consisted of 14 sessions with mean volume 2,253 ± 1,213 m•session-1 at an intensity below than the LMI, 1,730 ± 327 m•session-1 at an intensity near the LMI and 1,530 ± 1,019 m•session-1 at an intensity above the LMI. RESULTS Significant effects of the genders were observed for LMI and stroke parameters (p-value < 0.001 and η2 > 0.52 [large]) and propulsive force (p-value = 0.001; η2 = 0.59 [large]). However, no significant effects of the TP were identified in the performance of the 100 m freestyle (p-value = 0.66; η2 = 0.006 [small]), propulsive force (p-value > 0.63; η2 < 0.006 [small]), aerobic parameters (LMI: p-value = 0.32 and η2 = 0.03 [small]) and mechanical parameters (p-value > 0.23; η2 = 0.01 [small]). Nonetheless, the peak blood lactate concentrations were improved after TP (p-value = 0.014; η2 = 0.16 [large]), without significant interactions (p-value = 0.38; η2 = 0.02 [small]), as well as the mechanical parameters during maximum 100 m freestyle (p-value < 0.04 and η2 > 0.10 [medium]). CONCLUSIONS Hence, men and women presenting significantly different values in the age group studied, the responses observed after the TP investigated were the same independent of gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarine Botta de Arruda
- Laboratory of Aquatic Activities, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP-USP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brazil -
| | - Carlos A Kalva-Filho
- Human Movement Research Laboratory (MOVI-LAB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabio Milioni
- Laboratory of Physiology and Human Performance, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo State University, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo A Barbieri
- Laboratory of Aquatic Activities, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP-USP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brazil.,Estácio University Center of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Bucken Gobbi
- Laboratory of Aquatic Activities, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP-USP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brazil
| | - Marcelo Papoti
- Laboratory of Aquatic Activities, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP-USP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo - Brazil
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Knechtle B, Stjepanovic M, Knechtle C, Rosemann T, Sousa CV, Nikolaidis PT. Physiological Responses to Swimming Repetitive "Ice Miles". J Strength Cond Res 2021; 35:487-494. [PMID: 29878984 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000002690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Knechtle, B, Stjepanovic, M, Knechtle, C, Rosemann, T, Sousa, CV, and Nikolaidis, PT. Physiological responses to swimming repetitive "Ice Miles." J Strength Cond Res 35(2): 487-494, 2021-"Ice Mile" swimming (i.e., 1,608 m in water of below 5° C) is becoming increasingly popular. Since the foundation of the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) in 2009, official races are held as World Cup Races and World Championships. Ice swimming was a demonstration sport at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. This case study aimed to identify core body temperature and selected hematological and biochemical parameters before and after repeated "Ice Miles." An experienced ice swimmer completed 6 consecutive Ice Miles within 2 days. Three Ice Miles adhered to the strict criteria for the definition of Ice Miles, whereas the other 3 were very close (i.e., 5.2, 6.1, and 6.6° C) to the temperature limit. Swimming times, changes in core body temperatures, and selected urinary and hematological parameters were recorded. The athlete showed after each Ice Mile a metabolic acidosis (i.e., an increase in lactate and TCO2; a decrease in base excess and HCO3-) and an increase in blood glucose, cortisol, and creatine kinase concentration. The decrease in pH correlated significantly and negatively with the increase in cortisol level, indicating that this intense exercise causes a metabolic stress. The change in core body temperature between start and finish was negatively associated with metabolic acidosis. The increase in creatine kinase suggests skeletal muscle damages due to shivering after an Ice Mile. For athletes and coaches, swimming in cold water during Ice Miles leads to a metabolic acidosis, which the swimmer tries to compensate with a respiratory response. Considering the increasing popularity of ice swimming, the findings have practical value for swimmers and practitioners (e.g., coaches, exercise physiologists, and physicians) working with them because our results provide a detailed description of acute physiological responses to repeated swimming in cold conditions. These findings are of importance for athletes and coaches for National Championships and World Championships in Ice Swimming following the IISA rules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Knechtle
- Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mirko Stjepanovic
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Thomas Rosemann
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Caio V Sousa
- Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil ; and
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Nordsborg NB, Aragón-Vela J, Bonne T, Mohr M. A 3-min All-out Upper-body Ergometer Test For Competitive Swimmers. Int J Sports Med 2020; 42:724-730. [PMID: 33352602 DOI: 10.1055/a-1312-6797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined the application of a land-based swimming ergometer 3-min all-out test to determine physiological predictors of swimming performance. Fourteen young elite swimmers participated (males: n=6; females: n=8). The swimmers completed two 3-min upper-body all-out tests on a swimming ergometer. Additionally, the swimmers completed freestyle swim races ranging from 50 m to 1500 m. High test-retest reproducibility (r=0.98 and coefficient of variation values <7.5%) was evident for ergometer derived peak, mean and critical power. Very strong correlations (r>0.87, p<0.001) were obtained between the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-m swimming performances and derived critical speed. Moreover, correlations were found between peak force and peak power and 50-m performance, in addition to critical power and performance for all distances. The critical speed was the dominant predictor of 200- to 1500-m performances (r=0.84-0.99). In conclusion, the land-based 3-min all-out swimming ergometer test is reliable and valid in predicting swimming performance in competitive swimmers and evaluates important physiological components in swimmers independent of technical abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jerónimo Aragón-Vela
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Bonne
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Magni Mohr
- Centre of Health Science, Faculty of Health, University of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.,The Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Pacing in World-Class Age Group Swimmers in 100 and 200 m Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17113875. [PMID: 32486151 PMCID: PMC7313021 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Pacing in swimming has been investigated in pool swimming for elite-standard and age group freestyle swimmers, but little is known about pacing in age group swimmers competing at world class level in backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. The aim of this study was to investigate pacing for age group swimmers competing at world class level in 100 and 200 m in the four single disciplines (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly). Data on 18,187 unique finishers competing in four FINA Master World Championships between 2014 and 2019 were analyzed. The sample included 3334 women and 14,853 men. Swimming speed decreased with increasing age (p < 0.05). Freestyle was the fastest and breaststroke the slowest (p < 0.05) stroke. Women and men were faster in 100 m (p < 0.05) than in 200 m. Backstroke was the stroke with the lowest and butterfly with the highest coefficient of variation in swimming speed. One hundred meters had a higher coefficient of variation in swimming speed than breaststroke (p < 0.05). For 100 m, swimming speed decreased for all strokes and all age groups during the second lap. For 200 m, swimming speed was the fastest for all strokes and all age groups during the first lap. In summary, the FINA World Masters Championships presented the unique characteristic that, when all competitors were considered, (i) swimming speed decreased with increasing age, (ii) women and men were faster in 100 m than in 200 m, (iii) freestyle was the fastest stroke and (iv) the largest increase in swimming time for 100 m all strokes and all age groups occurred during the second (out of two) lap and for 200 m, swimming speed was the fastest for all strokes and age groups during the first lap. These findings should help coaches to develop age- and event-tailored pacing strategies.
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10
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Rano J, Fridén C, Eek F. Effects of acute psychological stress on athletic performance in elite male swimmers. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2019; 59:1068-1076. [DOI: 10.23736/s0022-4707.18.08493-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Pelarigo JG, Greco CC, Denadai BS, Fernandes RJ, Vilas-Boas JP, Pendergast DR. Do 5% changes around maximal lactate steady state lead to swimming biophysical modifications? Hum Mov Sci 2016; 49:258-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Revised: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Mourão L, de Jesus K, Roesler H, Machado LJ, Fernandes RJ, Vilas-Boas JP, Vaz MAP. Effective Swimmer's Action during the Grab Start Technique. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123001. [PMID: 25978370 PMCID: PMC4433328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The external forces applied in swimming starts have been often studied, but using direct analysis and simple interpretation data processes. This study aimed to develop a tool for vertical and horizontal force assessment based on the swimmers' propulsive and structural forces (passive forces due to dead weight) applied during the block phase. Four methodological pathways were followed: the experimented fall of a rigid body, the swimmers' inertia effect, the development of a mathematical model to describe the outcome of the rigid body fall and its generalization to include the effects of the inertia, and the experimental swimmers' starting protocol analysed with the inclusion of the developed mathematical tool. The first three methodological steps resulted in the description and computation of the passive force components. At the fourth step, six well-trained swimmers performed three 15 m maximal grab start trials and three-dimensional (3D) kinetic data were obtained using a six degrees of freedom force plate. The passive force contribution to the start performance obtained from the model was subtracted from the experimental force due to the swimmers resulting in the swimmers' active forces. As expected, the swimmers' vertical and horizontal active forces accounted for the maximum variability contribution of the experimental forces. It was found that the active force profile for the vertical and horizontal components resembled one another. These findings should be considered in clarifying the active swimmers' force variability and the respective geometrical profile as indicators to redefine steering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Mourão
- Superior School of Industrial Studies and Management, Porto Polytechnic Institute, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Karla de Jesus
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail:
| | - Hélio Roesler
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Aquatic Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Health and Sports Science Centre University of the State of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Leandro J. Machado
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J. Fernandes
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Vilas-Boas
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mário A. P. Vaz
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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