Relationship Between Vertical Jump Height and Swimming Start Performance Before and After an Altitude Training Camp

Abstract

This study aimed (a) to analyze the development in the squat jump height and swimming start performance after an altitude training camp, (b) to correlate the jump height and swimming start performance before and after the altitude training period, and (c) to correlate the percent change in the squat jump height with the percent change in swimming start performance. Fifteen elite male swimmers from the Spanish Junior National Team (17.1 ± 0.8 years) were tested before and after a 17-day training camp at moderate altitude. The height reached in the squat jump exercise with additional loads of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of swimmers' pretest body weight and swimming start performance (time to 5, 10, and 15 m) were the dependent variables analyzed. Significant increases in the jump height (p ≤ 0.05; effect size [ES]: 0.35-0.48) and swimming start performance (p < 0.01; ES: 0.48-0.52) after the training period were observed. The start time had similar correlations with the jump height before training (r = -0.56 to -0.77) and after training (r = -0.50 to -0.71). The change in the squat jump height was inversely correlated with the change in the start time at 5 m (r = -0.47), 10 m (r = -0.73), and 15 m (r = -0.62). These results suggest that altitude training can be suitable to enhance explosive performance. The correlations obtained between the squat jump height and start time in the raw and change scores confirm the relevance of having high levels of lower-body muscular power to optimize swimming start performance.

Resistance Training Using Different Hypoxic Training Strategies: a Basis for Hypertrophy and Muscle Power Development

“…This study also demonstrated the persistence of altitude-induced improvements in jump performance after 2 weeks of exposure to real moderate hypoxia, showing mean improvements in both variables of 7.8 and 4.4%, respectively. Moreover, significant correlations between the percent change in jump height and the percent change in swimming start performance were also obtained following a short-term training program of 17 days [72]. These three studies show that moderate exposure to real or simulated hypobaric hypoxia does not impair the ability to apply force rapidly [42, 71, 72], and this capacity is likely to improve with specifically target-oriented training [42, 72].…”

“…Moreover, significant correlations between the percent change in jump height and the percent change in swimming start performance were also obtained following a short-term training program of 17 days [72]. These three studies show that moderate exposure to real or simulated hypobaric hypoxia does not impair the ability to apply force rapidly [42, 71, 72], and this capacity is likely to improve with specifically target-oriented training [42, 72]. In accordance with this hypothesis, it has been recently observed that 3 weeks of training high-living high at 2320 m asl does not produce adverse effects on muscular function in elite swimmers, even if the training is not solely focus on improving force and power [73].…”

“…Finally, training orientation is also different among the studies. While Álvarez-Herms et al [71] described resistance endurance training to improve anaerobic power during multiple jumps, García-Ramos et al [42, 72] did not implement the study with specific tasks. The authors did however indicate that six of the ten resistance training exercises were oriented to strength-power training in the legs [42, 72].…”

“…While Álvarez-Herms et al [71] described resistance endurance training to improve anaerobic power during multiple jumps, García-Ramos et al [42, 72] did not implement the study with specific tasks. The authors did however indicate that six of the ten resistance training exercises were oriented to strength-power training in the legs [42, 72]. Additionally, the concurrent strength and endurance training used in the García-Ramos et al [73] study corroborate that an excessively oriented training aiming to improve endurance capacity attenuates strength training responses [81], even after an altitude training camp of 3 weeks [73, 82].…”

The Effects of Plyometric Warm-up on Lower Limb Muscle Activity and Time to 10m in the Backstroke Swimming Start

“…Performing drop jumps prior to countermovement and squat jump exercises results in greater subsequent jump height [14], which may be explained by PAP. Since time to 10 m and maximum jump height are inversely correlated in the swimming dive start [15], a warm-up which increases maximum jump height may result in a faster time to 10 m in the backstroke start as well. To our knowledge, however, this has not yet been examined.…”