A kinematic analysis to evaluate the start techniques’ efficacy in swimming

Formicola, Donato; Rainoldi, Alberto

doi:10.1007/s11332-014-0207-8

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…A competitive swimming event can be divided into four components: the start, free swimming, turn (except for a 50 m event) and finish [1]. The swim start is a separate skill compared to the free swim portion of a race, as swimmers initiate the movement on the starting block above the water for all strokes, except those competing in the backstroke event [2,3]. Swim start is defined as the time from the starting signal to when the swimmer crosses the 15 m mark in a race [4], with 15 m being the maximum distance that a swimmer can travel underwater before their head is required to break the surface of the water in all strokes except for breaststroke [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The block phase is followed by the flight phase, which is the projectile motion phase in which the swimmer becomes airborne and finishes when they make contact with the water [8,9]. The underwater phase comes next, in which swimmers attempt to maintain a streamlined position through undulatory (butterfly) leg kicks with their arms outstretched in front of the head to minimise velocity loss until their head resurfaces just before the 15 m mark [2]. The average velocity in the start phase has been shown to be more than twice the velocity of the subsequent free swim phase [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationships Between Dry-land Resistance Training and Swim Start Performance and Effects of Such Training on the Swim Start: A Systematic Review

2019

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Background: The swim start requires an explosive muscular response of the lower body musculature to effectively initiate movement off the starting blocks. There are currently key gaps in the literature evaluating the relationships between, and the effects of dry-land resistance training, on swim start performance, as assessed by the time to 5, 10 or 15 m. Objective: The aims of this systematic review are to critically appraise the current literature on (1) the acute relationship between dry-land resistance training and swim start performance; (2) the acute and chronic effects of dry-land resistance training on swim start performance. Methods: An electronic search using AusportMed, Embase, Medline (Ovid), SPORTDiscus and Web of Science was performed. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment (NOS) scale (cross-sectional studies) and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale (intervention studies). Results: Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria, although the majority did not utilise the starting blocks or technique currently used in elite swimming. Swim start performance was near perfectly related (r > 0.90) to vertical bodyweight jumps and jump height. Post-activation potentiation and plyometrics were found to produce significant improvements in acute and chronic swim start performance, respectively. Conclusion: While there appears to be strong evidence supporting the use of plyometric exercises such as vertical jumps for monitoring and improving swim start performance, future studies need to replicate these findings using current starting blocks and techniques and compare the chronic effects of a variety of resistance training programs. Key Points  Performance in a range of lower body strength and power exercises are highly correlated to swim start performance with correlations appearing greatest when utilising body weight vertical jumping exercises  Post-activation potentiation can produce significant acute improvements in swim start performance  Plyometrics as a form of dry-land training can produce significant chronic improvements in swim start performance This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Sports medicine.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships Between Dry-land Resistance Training and Swim Start Performance and Effects of Such Training on the Swim Start: A Systematic Review

2019

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“…The subsequent flight phase is an example of projectile motion, whereby the swimmer becomes airborne and finishes when they contact the water (Slawson et al, 2013;Tor, Pease & Ball, 2014). The flight phase is followed by the underwater phase, in which swimmers attempt to maintain a streamlined position with their arms outstretched in front of the head to minimise velocity loss while also performing multiple propulsive undulatory leg kicks (except in breaststroke) until their head resurfaces before the 15 m mark (Formicola & Rainoldi, 2015). The block, flight, and underwater phase account for approximately 11%, 5%, and 84% respectively of the total start time (Slawson et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prediction of swim start performance based on squat jump force-time characteristics

Thng

Pearson

Rathbone

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Background Depending on the stroke and distances of the events, swim starts have been estimated to account for 0.8% to 26.1% of the overall race time, with the latter representing the percentage in a 50 m sprint front crawl event (Cossor & Mason, 2001). However, it is still somewhat unclear what are the key physiological characteristics underpinning swim start performance. The primary aim of this study was to develop a multiple regression model to determine key lower body force-time predictors using the squat jump for swim start performance as assessed by time to 5 m and 15 m in national and international level swimmers. A secondary aim was to determine if any differences exist between males and females in jump performance predictors for swim start performance. Methods A total of 38 males (age 21 ± 3.1 years, height 1.83 ± 0.08 m, body mass 76.7 ± 10.2 kg) and 34 females (age 20.1 ± 3.2 years, height 1.73 ± 0.06 m, body mass 64.8 ± 8.4 kg) who had competed at either an elite (n = 31) or national level (n = 41) participated in this study. All tests were performed on the same day, with participants performing three bodyweight squat jumps on a force platform, followed by three swim starts using their main swimming stroke. Swim start performance was quantified via time to 5 m and 15 m using an instrumented starting block. Results Stepwise multiple linear regression with quadratic fitting identified concentric impulse and concentric impulse2 as statistically significant predictors for time to 5 m (R2 = 0.659) in males. With time to 15 m, concentric impulse, age and concentric impulse2 were statistically significant predictors for males (R2 = 0.807). A minimum concentric impulse of 200–230 N.s appears required for faster times to 5 m and 15 m, with any additional impulse production not being associated with a reduction in swim start times for most male swimmers. Concentric impulse, Reactive strength index modified and concentric mean power were identified as statistically significant predictors for female swimmers to time to 5 m (R2 = 0.689). Variables that were statistically significant predictors of time to 15 m in females were concentric impulse, body mass, concentric rate of power development and Reactive strength index modified (R2 = 0.841). Discussion The results of this study highlight the importance of lower body power and strength for swim start performance, although being able to produce greater than 200 or 230 N.s concentric impulse in squat jump did not necessarily increase swim start performance over 5 m and 15 m, respectively. Swimmers who can already generate greater levels of concentric impulse may benefit more from improving their rate of force development and/or technical aspects of the swim start performance. The sex-related differences in key force-time predictors suggest that male and female swimmers may require individualised strength and conditioning programs and regular monitoring of performance.

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“…Numerous studies have compared various types of swim starts, mainly the track start and grab start, or the track start and kick start [8][9][10][11][12]. With the introduction of the new OSB11 starting platform in 2009, several studies were conducted to determine the effect of using the kick plate on the parameters of start performance [13,14], stance positions in the swim start [15,16], or the key parameters of the swim start [2,[17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Parameters Affecting Kick Start Performance in Competitive Swimming

Matúš

Ružbarský

Vadašová

2021

IJERPH

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The study aims to determine the contribution of kinematic parameters to time to 5 m without underwater undulating and kicking. Eighteen male competitive swimmers started from three weighted positions and set the kick plate to positions 1–5. We used SwimPro cameras and the Dartfish© software. In the on-block phase, we found significant correlations (p < 0.01) between the front ankle angle and block time. The correlations between start phases were statistically significant (p < 0.01) between block time and rear ankle angle, respectively, to time to 2 m; rear knee angle and glide time; block time and time to 5 m; time to 2 m and time to 5 m; and flight distance and glide distance. The multiple regression analysis showed that the on-block phase and flight phase parameters, respectively, contributed 64% and 65% to the time to 5 m. The key block phase parameters included block time and rear knee angle. The key flight phase parameters determining time to 5 m included take-off angle and time to 2 m. The key parameters determining the performance to 5 m during the above-water phase include rear knee angle, block time, takeoff angle, and time to 2 m.

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A kinematic analysis to evaluate the start techniques’ efficacy in swimming

Cited by 9 publications

References 20 publications

Relationships Between Dry-land Resistance Training and Swim Start Performance and Effects of Such Training on the Swim Start: A Systematic Review

Relationships Between Dry-land Resistance Training and Swim Start Performance and Effects of Such Training on the Swim Start: A Systematic Review

The prediction of swim start performance based on squat jump force-time characteristics

Key Parameters Affecting Kick Start Performance in Competitive Swimming

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