Purpose: To observe changes in performance, physiological, and general kinematic variables induced by the use of wetsuits vs swimsuits in both swimming-pool and swimming-flume conditions. Methods: In a randomized and counterbalanced order, 33 swimmers (26.46 [11.72] y old) performed 2 × 400-m maximal front crawl in a 25-m swimming pool (with wetsuit and swimsuit), and their mean velocities were used later in 2 swimming-flume trials with both suits. Velocity, blood lactate concentration, heart rate (HR), Borg scale (rating of perceived exertion), stroke rate, stroke length (SL), stroke index, and propelling efficiency were evaluated. Results: The 400-m performance in the swimming pool was 0.07 m·s−1 faster when using the wetsuit than when using the swimsuit, evidencing a reduction of ∼6% in time elapsed (P < .001). Maximal HR, maximal blood lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion, stroke rate, and propelling efficiency were similar when using both swimsuits, but SL and stroke index presented higher values with the wetsuit in both the swimming pool and the swimming flume. Comparing swimming conditions, maximal HR and maximal blood lactate concentration were lower, and SL, stroke index, and propelling efficiency were higher when swimming in the flume than when swimming in the pool with both suits. Conclusions: The 6% velocity improvement was the result of an increase of 4% in SL. Swimmers reduced stroke rate and increased SL to benefit from the hydrodynamic reduction of the wetsuit and increase their swimming efficiency. Wetsuits might be utilized during training seasons to improve adaptations while swimming.

This study explored in the 50 m races of the four swimming strokes the performance parameters and/or technical variables that determined the differences between swimmers who reach the finals and those who do not. A total of 322 performances retrieved from the 2021 Budapest European championships were the focus of this study. The results of the performances achieved during the finals compared to the heats showed that the best swimmers did not excel during the heats, as a significant progression of performance was observed in most of the strokes as the competition progressed. Specifically, combining men and women, the swimmers had in freestyle a mean coefficient of variation (CV) of ∼0.6%, with a mean range of performance improvement (∆%) of ∆ = ∼0.7%; in breaststroke a mean CV of ∼0.5% and ∆ = −0.2%; in backstroke a mean CV of ∼0.5% and ∆ = −0.6%, and; in butterfly a mean CV of ∼0.7% and ∆ = −0.9%. For all strokes, it was a reduction of the underwater phase with the aim of increasing its speed. However, this result was not always transferred to the final performance. In any case, most of the swimmers tried to make improvements from the start of the race up to 15 m. Furthermore, the swimmers generated an overall increase in stroke rate as the rounds progressed. However, a decrease in stroke length resulted and, this balance appeared to be of little benefit to performance.

Wearing an intraoral jaw-protruding splint could enhance respiratory function in clinical settings and eventually exercise performance. Purpose: The authors studied the acute effect of wearing a lower-jaw-forwarding splint at different protruding percentages (30% and 50%) across a wide range of running exercise intensities. Methods: A case study was undertaken with a highly trained and experienced 27-year-old female triathlete. She performed the same incremental intermittent treadmill running protocol on 3 occasions wearing 3 different intraoral devices (30% and 50% maximum range and a control device) to assess running physiological and kinematic variables. Results: Both the 30% and 50% protruding splints decreased oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production (by 4%–12% and 1%–10%, respectively) and increased ventilation and respiratory frequency (by 7%–12% and 5%–16%, respectively) along the studied running intensities. Exercise energy expenditure (approximately 1%–14%) and cost (7.8, 7.4, and 8.0 J·kg−1·m−1 for 30%, 50%, and placebo devices, respectively) were also decreased when using the jaw-protruding splints. The triathlete’s lower limbs’ running pattern changed by wearing the forwarding splints, decreasing the contact time and stride length by approximately 4% and increasing the stride rate by approximately 4%. Conclusions: Wearing a jaw-protruding splint can have a positive biophysical effect on running-performance-related parameters.

The level of expertise must be defined for the sample studied when report research in sport. Concretely in swimming, apart from the participants' background, the competitive status is based on the level that swimmers participate. Thus, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) points are added to improve the sample level characterization. The aim of this study was two-fold: 1) to assess whether national and regional swimmers from different countries differ in their performance level (based on FINA points), and 2) to propose a model that allows standardizing the research results in swimming. The FINA points of 5876 participants (males = 2962 and females = 2914) in 100 m butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle were retrieved from nationals (n = 21) and regionals (n = 44) swimming competitions. One-way analysis of variance was conducted to test the difference in FINA points between swimmers of different countries.Significant disparities (100 to 350 FINA points; p<0.001) were observed in national and regional competitions for male and female swimmers among the different countries analyzed. This could lead to misleading conclusions when comparing studies with national or regional swimmers from different countries. In this regard, a new model of performance classification based on national and regional worldwide competition is proposed. This might be used to standardized the swimming research results.

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The effects of pre-activation exercises on undulatory underwater swimming (UUS) have not been studied. This research aimed to: 1) assess the effects of a jumping-exercise strategy upon UUS performance and kinematics variables; 2) test the different effects on males and females, and; 3) to explore if stronger participants exhibit greater post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). Ninety-two age-group national level swimmers randomly assigned into control (17 males and 18 females) and experimental groups (27 males and 30 females) took part in a cross-sectional study designed to test two maximal 15-m UUS performance efforts. The experimental group performed four maximal tuck jumps before the first or the second UUS effort. Performance and kinematics variables were analyzed using instantaneous velocity data via speedometer. Maximal lower-limbs force was obtained during a countermovement jump through a linear-encoder. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA test and linear regression analysis were used to explore variable interactions between baseline and PAPE, and the association between the PAPE response and strength of the swimmers, respectively. Despite trends toward improvements in push-off velocity (Δ = 1.33%; d = 0.12), the results did not show enhancements nor deterioration in UUS performance and kinematics after the tuck jumps. No specific PAPE responses modulated by sex or by the strength level of the swimmers were observed for this age-group (p < 0.05). Four tuck jump repetitions executed prior to diving could be insufficient to acutely enhance UUS performance. The fact that the exercise performed during warm-up was a body-weight based exercise, was possibly not enough to evoke PAPE.

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Background:The aim was to compare the effects of two different types of concurrent feedback administration on biomechanical performance during a swimming-specific task. Material and methods:A counterbalanced repeated measures design was used to compare the execution of the butterfly stroke (the propulsion phase only) on a modified Smith machine. Twenty repetitions were performed in each condition of feedback (visual vs. verbal). Fourteen college swimmers (age x̄ = 22.21 ±1.85 years, height x̄ = 173.71 ±8.65 cm, mass x̄ = 71.32 ±10.64 kg) were recruited. An incremental force test was administered for each participant to determine the mean propulsive velocity in which maximal power was produced. Feedback addressed correct execution velocity of the pulling movement that corresponded to the maximal power production as determined in an incremental force test.Results: T testing revealed no statistically significant differences between the verbal and visual feedback conditions. Visual feedback elicited a correct response in 76.11% of total feedback compared with 72.06% in the verbal feedback condition.Conclusions: Considering total feedback response, the visual feedback condition elicited 4.05% more correct responses than verbal feedback. However, this difference did not attain statistical significance and, therefore, the underlying hypothesis could not be confirmed.