Biomechanical Influence of Start Technique Preference for Elite Track Starters in Front Crawl

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this study was to analyse the differences between preferential and non preferential start technique, and the inter-trial variability. Seven elite swimmers, who used track start as preferential technique, realised three trials in track and grab start. The kinematical analysis assessed the durations of the block, flight, entry, glide, leg kicking and full swimming phases to the 15-m mark. Aerial (sum of block and flight phase with head mark) and underwater (from entry to the head reach the water surface) phases, number of underwater leg undulations and arm stroke to 15m were also measured. The kinetic analysis assessed reaction and impulse time and total impulses in vertical and horizontal axis. Track start, as preferential technique, had shorter block and entry phases but similar flight phase. In grab start, swimmers spend more time in the impulse and obtained higher vertical impulse values; moreover higher inter-trial variability was found for non-preferential technique suggesting lower efficiency. Differences of kinematics and kinetics observed tended to explain that the preferential technique is highly stabilised and reproducible by the swimmers. However, no differences on the 15m start time performance are observed between the two techniques, confirming the high skill level of the swimmers, and notably their capability to compensate lower block efficiency by effective underwater phases. Indeed, the relative duration of the underwater phases, the number of leg undulations and arm strokes are very similar in both techniques.

Body Composition and Kinematic Analysis of the Grab Start in Youth Swimmers

“…Many factors that affect start performance in swimming have been studied generally in adults ( Guimaraes and Hay, 1985 ; Holthe and McLean, 2001 ; Issurin and Verbitsky, 2002 ; Gautier et al, 2004 ; Galbraith et al, 2008 ; Vantorre et al, 2010 ; Puel et al, 2012 ). In several investigations, the anthropometric and biomechanical characteristics in pubertal swimmers have been studied ( Jürimäe et al, 2007 ; Latt et al, 2009 ; Latt et al, 2010 ); whereas in some of the studies, the relationship between these characteristics and swimming performance has been examined ( Klentrou et al, 1991 ; Siders et al, 1993 ).…”

Ventral swimming starts, changes and recent evolution: A systematic review (Cambios y reciente evolución de las salidas ventrales de natación: revisión sistemática)

“…The most commonly parameters used to compare the water phase of different start techniques included parameters related to the start performance (time to 5, 7.5, 10 or 15 m). Concerning to this, imperceptible differences were shown when the swimmers reached 5, 7.5 and 15 m. distance between the GS and TS (Benjanuvatra et al, 2004;Mason et al, 2007;Vantorre et al, 2010a). However, temporal advantages of .04, .15 and .14 s. were reported in the 5, 10 and 15 m. time, respectively, for the KS compared to the TS (Beretiae et al, 2012;Honda et al, 2010;Ozeki et al, 2012).…”

“…Both techniques (GS and TS) coexisted for more than forty years due to disagreements over their advantages and disadvantages. Several authors did not give priority to the use of one technique over another, concluding that the best start is the one most practiced by the swimmer (Blanksby, Nicholson, & Elliot, 2002;Mason, Alcock, & Fowlie, 2007;Vantorre, Seifert, Fernandes, Vilas-Boas, & Chollet, 2010a). Other investigations gave preference to the TS over the GS (Issurin & Verbitsky, 2002) or vice versa (Krüger, Wick, Hohmann, El-Bahrawi, & Koth, 2003).…”

“…The purpose of the present review was two-fold: to analyse the advantages of the last changes produced in the swimming starts as a consequence of the implementation of KS; and to present topics for future studies and guidance for coaches and swimmers. With this purpose, the discussion of the results is divided into four phases: block phase, flight phase, water phase and swim phase (Cossor & Mason, 2001, Guimaraes & Hay, 1985Tor, Pease, & Ball, 2014a;Vantorre et al, 2010a).…”

Learning relay start strategies in swimming: What feedback is best?

“…There are a number of studies in the literature which consider horizontal and vertical impulses as predominant variables for the swim start (Blanksby, Nicholson, & Elliott, 2002;Vilas-Boas et al, 2003;West, Owen, Cunningham, Cook, & Kilduff, 2011). Benjanuvatra, Edmunds, and Blanksby (2007) and Vantorre et al (2011) argue that a high horizontal impulse is the primary basis for an optimal take-off from the block. Benjanuvatra et al (2007) found significantly higher horizontal impulses in expert swimmers as compared to beginners.…”