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

Abstract

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.

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

“…Previous research has highlighted a key component of swim start performance is the ability to produce high forces off the starting block. In a recent systematic review of eight cross-sectional studies, Thng, Pearson & Keogh (2019) observed significant correlations between vertical jump and lower body strength scores to swim start performance in swimmers of a variety of standards, with these correlations typically higher for the jump than strength tests. Specifically, near perfect correlations (r > 0.90) between jump height or take-off velocity and swim start performance were observed in the eight studies.…”

“…These results highlight the importance of lower body power and strength as an important component of swim start performance. However, out of the 8 cross-sectional studies identified in the systematic review (Thng, Pearson & Keogh, 2019), only one study utilised the OSB11 start block (OMEGA, Zurich, Switzerland) that is currently used in competitive swimming (Garcia-Ramos et al, 2016a). The OSB11 start block which was introduced by FINA in 2010 has an angled kick plate at the rear of the block that allows the swimmer to adopt a kick start technique.…”

“…In addition, all of the studies described in the systematic review by Thng, Pearson & Keogh (2019) only involved correlational analyses. While correlations describe the nature of a relationship between two variables, other statistical approaches such as multiple linear regression may provide more information regarding what power and strength variables (hereafter referred to as force-time characteristics) of jumping performance that best predict swim start performance in high performance swimmers.…”

Peer Review #1 of "The prediction of swim start performance based on squat jump force-time characteristics (v0.1)"

“…Previous research has highlighted a key component of swim start performance is the ability to produce high forces off the starting block. In a recent systematic review of eight cross-sectional studies, Thng et al (2019) observed significant correlations between vertical jump and lower body strength scores to swim start performance in swimmers of a variety of standards, with these correlations typically higher for the jump than strength tests. Specifically, near perfect correlations (r > 0.90) between jump height or take-off velocity and swim start performance were observed in the eight studies.…”

“…These results highlight the importance of lower body power and strength as an important component of swim start performance. However, out of the 8 cross-sectional studies identified in the systematic review (Thng et al 2019), only one study utilised the OSB11 start block (OMEGA, Zurich, Switzerland) that is currently used in competitive swimming (Garcia-Ramos et al 2016a). The OSB11 start block which was introduced by FINA in 2010 has an angled kick plate at the rear of the block that allows the swimmer to adopt a kick start technique.…”