Critical stroke rate as a parameter for evaluation in swimming

Abstract

Abstract-The purpose of this study was to investigate the critical stroke rate (CSR) compared to the average stroke rate (SR) when swimming at the critical speed (CS). Ten competitive swimmers performed five 200 m trials at different velocities relative to their CS (90, 95, 100, 103 and 105%) in front crawl. The CSR was significantly higher than the SR at 90% of the CS and lower at 105% of the CS. Stroke length (SL) at 103 and 105% of the CS were lower than the SL at 90, 95, and 100% of the CS. The combination of the CS and CSR concepts can be useful for improving both aerobic capacity/power and technique. CS and CSR could be used to reduce the SR and increase the SL, when swimming at the CS pace, or to increase the swimming speed when swimming at the CSR.Keywords: stroke parameters, training control, critical swimming speed, front crawl Resumo-"Frequência critica de braçadas como parâmetro para avaliação em natação." O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a frequência crítica de braçadas (FCB) comparando com a frequência de braçadas (FB) quando nadando na velocidade crítica (VC) e em diferentes percentuais da VC no nado crawl. Dez nadadores competitivos realizaram repetições máximas nas distâncias de 200 e 400 m para a determinação da VC e FCB. Posteriormente, os sujeitos realizaram cinco repetições de 200 m a 90, 95, 100, 103 e 105% da VC, em ordem aleatória. FCB foi significativamente maior do que FC obtida a 90% e menor do que obtida a 105% da VC. Comprimento de braçada (CB) a 103% e 105% da VC foi menor quando comparado às repetições a 90, 95 e 100% da VC. A combinação dos conceitos de VC e FCB pode ser útil para incremento de ambos, capacidade/potência aeróbia e técnica, com objetivo de reduzir FB (e incrementar CB) quando nadando no ritmo de VC ou incrementar a velocidade de nado utilizando-se a FCB. Palavras-chaves: parâmetros de braçada, controle do treinamento, velocidade crítica em natação, nado crawlResumen-"Frecuencia crítica de brazada como parámetro para evaluación en la natación." El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la frecuencia crítica de brazadas (FCB) en comparación con la frecuencia de brazadas (FB) al nadar a la velocidad crítica (VC) y diferentes porcentajes de la VC en estilo crol. Diez nadadores realizaron repeticiones máximas a distancias de 200 y 400 m para obtener la VC y la FCB. Posteriormente, los sujetos realizaron cinco repeticiones a 200 m para 90, 95, 100, 103 y 105% de la VC, de forma aleatoria. LaFCB fue significativamente mayor que la FC obtenida a 90 % y menor que la FC obtenida a 105 % de la VC. La longitud de la brazada (LB) a 103 % y 105 % de la VC fue menor en comparación con las repeticiones al 90, 95 y 100 % de la VC. La combinación de los conceptos de VC y FCB puede ser útil para aumentar tanto la capacidad / potencia aerobio y la técnica destinada a reducir la FB (y aumentar LB) al nadar en el ritmo de la VC o aumentar la velocidad de nado con la FCB.Palabras claves: parámetros de brazadas, control del entrenamiento, velocidad crítica en natación, crol

Efficacy of Core Training in Swimming Performance and Neuromuscular Parameters of Young Swimmers: A Randomised Control Trial

“…Furthermore, safety equipment, such as safety ropes and safety rings, was available in the swimming pool to prevent the risk of drowning. Special preparations were followed to determine the stroke parameters, including setting up a straight-line sector in the swimming pool [ 31 ]. Divider markers in the form of spiral float line lane ropes of 50 m were placed in the swimming pool.…”

“…One camera was placed on a wall 10 m away from the swimming pool to detect the total ST from the start point to the end point. The second camera was placed 0.15 m underwater in the centre of the lane to detect the stroke parameters [ 31 ]. The third camera was movable by the researcher to keep track of the entire trial ( Figure 2 ).…”

“…A chronometer was used by the coach to detect the ST to avoid possible time error. This measure is widely used to identify the stroke parameters [ 31 , 32 ]. To calculate the stroke parameters, the swimmers were asked to perform 15 min of warm-up exercises before the trial.…”

“…The following parameters were measured: Swimming velocity or swimming speed (SV; m.s −1 ): Total distance covered (50 m) divided by the time required to cover that distance (s) [ 31 , 34 , 35 ] ; Stroke rate (SR; cycle.min −1 ): The average time to perform a complete arm stroke SR = (T stroke −1 ) × 60. SR was measured by taking the average of three complete cycles divided by three, and we used the equal sign in the equation [ 31 , 34 , 35 ]. SR = (3/3 CYCLE TIME) × 60; Stroke length (SL; m. cycle −1 ): SV (m.s −1 ) divided by SR (cycle.min −1 ) yields the cycle length in meters [ 31 , 34 , 35 ].…”

“…SR was measured by taking the average of three complete cycles divided by three, and we used the equal sign in the equation [ 31 , 34 , 35 ]. SR = (3/3 CYCLE TIME) × 60; Stroke length (SL; m. cycle −1 ): SV (m.s −1 ) divided by SR (cycle.min −1 ) yields the cycle length in meters [ 31 , 34 , 35 ]. × 60; Total strokes (NX): The total of the arm stroke cycles performed during the maximal test divided by the total test time [ 31 , 34 , 35 ].…”