The Effectiveness of a Leg-Kicking Training Program on Performance and Physiological Measures of Competitive Swimmers

Abstract

This study investigated the adaptations in leg muscle metabolism of swimmers following a six-week, leg-kicking swimming training program.Fifteen male competitive swimmers were randomly assigned to an experimental group (E; n=8) and a control group (C; n=7). E swimmers performed normal leg-kicking training three times per week, whereas C swimmers performed reduced leg-kicking training (20% and 4% of weekly training distance, respectively). Before and after the training program, all swimmers performed a 200 m leg-kicking and a 400 m full-stroke freestyle time trial and a dry-land exercise test during which peak oxygen uptake, oxygen uptake at 60 W and exercise intensity at ventilatory threshold were measured. After training, there were improvements in leg-kicking time in 200 m (s; -6.0 ± 2.0%, p = 0.044), oxygen uptake at 60 Watts (L·min -1 ; -20.4 ± 3.0%, p = 0.035) and exercise intensity at ventilatory threshold (Watts; +28.0 ± 5.0%, p = 0.023) in E swimmers, whereas time in 400 m and peak oxygen uptake remained unchanged (p > 0.05). There were no changes in any of the measures for C swimmers (P > 0.05). These results suggest that normal leg-kicking swimming training positively affects the conditioning of the legs, but does not improve aerobic power during the dry-land, leg-kicking exercise test or middle-distance, full-stroke, swimming performance.

Effect of imposing changes in kick frequency on kinematics during undulatory underwater swimming at maximal effort in male swimmers

“…If swimmers want to increase their speed, U, they should train by increasing f without decreasing A during maximal UUS. Konstantaki and Winter (2009) investigated the effect of six week leg kicking training for competitive male swimmers (an experiment group conducted a kicking training session equivalent to 20% of total training per a week, while a control group was equivalent to 4%) with randomized control design. The authors reported that 200-m kicking time of the training group was shorter (À6%) than the control group, and concluded leg-kicking swimming training could enhance exercise efficiency and improve leg endurance.…”

Quantifying freestyle kick-count and kick-rate patterns in Paralympic swimming

“…There were similar enhancements among 25-m segments across all swimmers, suggesting that for a given change in kick rate there was a corresponding change in 25-m time, independent of fatigue. Recent findings have suggested that kicking training improves leg conditioning and is effective for inducing training adaptations (Konstantaki & Winter, 2007). Combined with the achievable increases in kick rate, coaches could use this knowledge to design kicking training programmes to increase swimming speed.…”

“…Coaches prescribe kicking-only drills in the majority of swimming training sessions but until now lap time has been the only variable quantified (Konstantaki & Winter, 2007). Difficulties in assessing characteristics of the kick can be overcome with recent developments, such as inertial-sensor technology (Fulton, Pyne, & Burkett, 2009).…”

Análisis cinemático de la salida con empuje en nadadores competitivos de nivel nacional

“…A pesar del número de investigaciones realizadas en este campo, han sido diferentes los ensayos con nadadores y métodos utilizados para investigar la influencia del batido subacuático (Cohen, Cleary y Mason, 2012;Konstantaki y Winter, 2009;Loebbecke et al, 2009a;. Konstantaki y Winter (2009) mediante del entrenamiento del batido de piernas durante seis semanas y con un diseño de control aleatorio en nadadores masculinos competitivos (un grupo experimental llevo a cabo una sesión de entrenamiento del batido equivalente al 20% del entrenamiento total por una semana, mientras que un grupo de control fue equivalente al 4%).…”

“…Konstantaki y Winter (2009) mediante del entrenamiento del batido de piernas durante seis semanas y con un diseño de control aleatorio en nadadores masculinos competitivos (un grupo experimental llevo a cabo una sesión de entrenamiento del batido equivalente al 20% del entrenamiento total por una semana, mientras que un grupo de control fue equivalente al 4%). Ambos autores llegaron a la conclusión de que el entrenamiento del batido de pierna podría aumentar la eficacia de la prueba y mejorar la resistencia de la pierna.…”