Development of Ergometer Attachment for Power and Maximum Anaerobic Power Measurement in Swimming.

Abstract

Abstract. The ergometer can be a versatile means of measurement if attachments are developed for special purposes or if attachment is developed for multi-uses. In this study, an ergometer attachment for the measurement of power was designed and the measurement of power and the maximum anaerobic power in swimming was tested. A rotation drum was attached to one pedal of an ergometer. The rotation of this drum was synchronized with the rotation of the pedal. One end of a wire for a traction by a swimmer was connected to the drum. The other end of the wire was attached to a belt around the waist of a swimmer. The swimmer swam at full strength, thus causing the drum to rotate. The rotational velocity of the drum was detected as voltage by a magnetic permanent motor and transformed to wire tractional velocity; this velocity was equal to swimming velocity. The wire tension (=load) was controlled by a load adjusting lever of the ergometer. This wire tension was equal to the load which was added to the swimmer. The power calculation was based on a curved regression equation approximated from the load and the velocity. This equation was shown as follows; (P + a) (v + b) = (P0 + a)b or its development (P + a)v = b(P0 P) and provided that P: force or load, v: swimming velocity, P0: maximum tractional force, a and b: constants. This ergometer attachment made it possible to measure and evaluate the power and the maximum anaerobic power in swimming with ease and at low cost. Measurement and evaluation are easily performed using the system, which is just one example of the possible applications of the ergometer.

Effect of Different Loads on Stroke and Coordination Parameters During Freestyle Semi-Tethered Swimming

“…Shionoya et al (1999) assessed average speed during semi-tethered swimming with several loads: 1, 4, 7 and 10kg. The values obtained were: 1.34, 1.07, 0.79 and 0.45m/s, which are similar to our propv peak data, considering that loads were slightly different.…”

“…Nevertheless, no negative changes would be expected if tethered swimming was only a part of the training program (Maglischo et al, 1985). According to Shionoya et al (1999), the most suitable load for training is the load which produces the maximum power in the force-power curve. Further research is required to determine whether a relationship between swim power production and stroke and coordination parameters exists.…”

“…Another factor with big influence on swimming speed is load (Shionoya et al, 1999). In the latter study, they assessed speeds from 1.34m/s with 1kg load to 0.45m/s with 10kg load, but stroking parameters were not studied.…”

Relationships between a Load-velocity Profile and Sprint Performance in Butterfly Swimming

“…For example, the MAD system is applicable for arm-only front-crawl swimming only, and the latter two methods rely on the assumption that the power the swimmer can produce does not change when adding or subtracting a load to/from the swimmer. However, this assumption is not the case in reality [7,8].…”

“…There have been several studies that applied a semi-tethered swimming method to assess swimming power [7,8,[16][17][18][19]. However, semi-tethered swimming has not been adopted to estimate maximum swimming velocity and load in any studies.…”