Post-Eccentric Flywheel Underwater Undulatory Swimming Potentiation in Competitive Swimmers

Abstract

Underwater undulatory swimming (UUS) influences overall swimming performance, therefore swimmers should try to maximize it. This research aimed to: 1) assess the effects of an activation protocol based on post-activation performance enhancements upon UUS; and 2) evaluate the differences between males and females. Seventeen competitive swimmers (male = 10; female = 7) participated in a cross-sectional study designed to test performance in UUS at 10 m after a traditional swimming warm-up (TRA) and after adding to the TRA 4 maximal half-squat repetitions on an inertial flywheel device (PAPE). A speedometer and an electronic timing system were used to obtain kinematic variables such as time, frequency and velocity at 10-m, which were processed with MATLAB®. A paired sample t test was applied to determine the differences of the kinematic variables between the TRA and PAPE. An independent sample t test was used to determine the effects of the PAPE in males and females. Participants reduced the time to cover 10 m after PAPE compared to the TRA (males: 5.77 ± 0.44 to 5.64 ± 0.46; females 6.34 ± 0.80 to 6.09 ± 0.66; p < 0.05). In addition, trends towards improvements in UUS velocity were obtained for males and females. However, push-off velocity and frequency showed a different tendency between genders (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the warm-up including repetitions on the flywheel device improved UUS performance. Some differences were obtained between genders after PAPE. Further research should confirm if the benefits obtained after the eccentric overload would depend either on gender or on other components such as fiber type composition.

Effects of Dry-Land Training Programs on Swimming Turn Performance: A Systematic Review

“…However, strength training can reduce the tumble turn time in contrast with endurance or concurrent training [15]. Additionally, acute effects obtained with protocols such as PAPE (post-activation performance enhancement) have positive effects on turn performance with an increase in the UUS (underwater undulatory swimming) kinetic variables [21].…”

Swimming performance, physiology, and post-activation performance enhancement following dryland transition phase warmup: A systematic review

“…Fig 1 illustrates the schematisation of the study selection process. Initially, 317 records were identified and 25 [ 1 , 4 – 7 , 16 , 19 , 21 , 33 – 49 ] studies were included in this review. These studies reported the mean and standard deviation or confidence interval for at least one primary outcome variable.…”

“…Upper limb and combined upper and lower limb PAPE protocols demonstrated mostly unfavourable swim performance changes [ 34 , 35 , 38 , 40 , 46 ]. Lower-limb only PAPE using plyometric actions have demonstrated mixed results [ 7 , 39 , 43 ], though the use of heavier loaded conditions using band resisted squats or loaded lunge and squats have consistently improved time to 15 m [ 7 , 36 , 40 ], dive kinetics [ 37 ], and the underwater kick phase [ 49 ].…”

“…Eight studies included a condition which was lower limb exclusive [ 7 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 43 , 46 , 49 ]. Three studies have investigated the effects of exclusively lower limb PAPE response using a weighted box or countermovement jump protocol [ 7 , 39 , 46 ].…”

“…Heavier loaded protocols were used by five studies [ 7 , 36 , 37 , 40 , 49 ] with three reporting an improvement in start performance [ 7 , 36 , 40 ], and one study each reporting improvements in dive kinetics [ 37 ] or underwater kicking [ 49 ]. One study demonstrated improvements in start performance across several time and kinetic related variables up to 15 m with improvements in time to 5 m and 15 m, dive distance, flight time, horizontal velocity, block time, and angular velocity of the knee extensors using an eccentric flywheel with results more favourable compared to a loaded lunge at 85% of 1RM in a Smith machine [ 36 ].…”