Effects of a high-intensity swim test on kinematic parameters in high-level athletes

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a high-intensity swim test among top-level swimmers on (i) the spatial and temporal parameters of both the stroke and the 3-D fingertip pattern and (ii) the mechanical, muscular, and physiological parameters. Ten male international swimmers performed a 4 x 50 m swim at maximal intensity. Isometric arm flexion force with the elbow at 90 degrees (F90 degrees ), EMG signals of right musculus biceps brachii and triceps brachii and blood lactate concentrations were recorded before and after the swim test. Kinematic stroke (stroke length, rate, and velocity) and spatiotemporal parameters of the fingertip trajectory were measured by two underwater cameras during the first and last 50 m swims. After the swim test, F90 degrees and mean power frequencies of the EMG decreased significantly when blood lactate concentration increased significantly, attesting the reaching of fatigue. From the first to the last 50 m, stroke rate, stroke velocity, and temporal parameters of the fingertip trajectory exhibited significant increases although stroke length and spatial fingertip trajectory remained unchanged. General and individual adaptations were observed among the top-level swimmers studied. The present findings could be useful for coaches in evaluating fatigue effects on the technical parameters of swimming.

Arm coordination, power, and swim efficiency in national and regional front crawl swimmers

“…However, a greater IdC does not automatically ensure efficiency of propulsion generation and high swimming speed because swimmers can slip through the water (Counsilman, 1981) or spend a long time in the propulsive phase due to slow hand speed (Aujouannet, Bonifazi, Hintzy, Vuillerme & Rouard, 2006;Seifert, Chollet, & Chatard (2007). According to hydrodynamic theories of propulsion, the orientation, surface and speed of the body segments involved in propulsion are crucial factors to determine lift and drag force magnitudes.…”

Evaluation of muscle fatigue during 100-m front crawl

“…Fatigue during swimming has been widely examined by monitoring different physiological, kinematic and biomechanical parameters such as swimming velocity, acceleration, stroke length, stroke rate, arm coordination, spatiotemporal parameters (such as 3-D fingertip pattern), mechanical power output, (net) energy cost, heart rate, oxygen consumption, blood lactate concentration and the isometric force (Alberty et al 2008;Aujouannet et al 2006;Billat et al 1996;Bonifazi et al1993;Dekerle et al 2005;Fernandes et al 2006;Rouard et al 1997;Seifert et al 2005Seifert et al , 2007Tella et al 2008;Toussaint et al 2006). All these studies demonstrate that development of muscle fatigue during swimming is an interesting topic, which can be studied using various methods and parameters.…”

“…Aujouannet et al (2006) evaluated muscle fatigue by comparing EMG measured during isometric contraction of arm flexors before and after swimming. MNF of the EMG power spectrum for the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles decreased after a 4 9 50 m front crawl at maximum intensity with respect to the values obtained before the swim.…”

Observação e caracterização técnica em natação pura desportiva: 200 m bruços

“…studies have been developed with the crawl stroke [22][23][24][25][26] , demonstrating hence a study gap in the breaststroke.…”

“…Since alterations of kinematic parameters are related to the muscular activity, Aujoannet et al 25 verified that the EMG presents great individual variations; however, the fingers trajectory and Sl were unchangeable during a 4 x 50m crawl test, while Figueiredo 27 presented fatigue indicators in a maximum 200m crawl test, in which the decrease in the hand velocity and the propulsive efficiency of the stroke occurred. in the amplitude domain, many studies presented amplitude increase of the neuromuscular activity [27][28][29][30] .…”