Young Swimmers' Anthropometrics, Biomechanics, Energetics, and Efficiency as Underlying Performance Factors: A Systematic Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: In youth swimming, researchers are interested in understanding how anthropometry and parameters related to swimming technique (biomechanics, energetics, and efficiency) influence the performance. However, there is not any review in the literature that consolidates the body of knowledge of this topic. The objective of this study was to review systematically the current body of work on the influence of determinant factors related to swimming technique (biomechanics, energetics, and efficiency) and anthropometry in the young performance of swimmers.Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify relevant studies.Results: After screening, 240 studies were analyzed and 59 related to swimming performance, and its determinant factors were retained for synthesis. Studies revealed a high-quality index by PEDro scale (mean score was 7.17 ± 1.40). Twenty-five studies were longitudinal designs and the remaining 34 cross-sectional designs. Most of the studies (N = 39, 66.1%) reported concurrently two or more determinant factors (anthropometrics, biomechanics, energetics, and efficiency).Conclusion: Youth swimming research relies on a multifactorial assessment. From the synthesis, it is possible to conclude that the performance of young swimmers is characterized by a multifactorial, holistic, and dynamic phenomenon. Better performance has always been related to better swimming technique and higher anthropometrics. This suggests that both anthropometrics (i.e., nature) and training (i.e., nurture) play key roles in the swimming performance of young swimmers.

Tracking performance and its underlying characteristics in talented swimmers: a longitudinal study during the junior-to-senior transition

“…Additionally, high-performing senior females demonstrated significantly higher SI at late junior age compared to their lower-performing peers (very large effect sizes). This finding corresponds with existing literature showing that faster (early junior) swimmers distinguished themselves from others with better SI ( Barbosa et al, 2019 ; Morais et al, 2021 ). However, contrary to our initial hypothesis, no differences in SI were observed among males.…”

“…However, with most studies in elite swimming focusing on adults ( Costa et al, 2012 ), little is known about the developmental pathway towards swimming expertise. For example, the systematic narrative review of Morais et al (2021) found only eight longitudinal studies on youth swimmers’ development over multiple seasons, highlighting the need for research that shed light on the journey towards swimming excellence.…”

Understanding the Role of Propulsion in the Prediction of Front-Crawl Swimming Velocity and in the Relationship Between Stroke Frequency and Stroke Length

“…Swimming velocity is highly dependent from anthropometric variables ( Nevill et al, 2020 ; Oliveira et al, 2021 ), kinematics and motor control ( Morais et al, 2012 ; Figueiredo et al, 2016 ; Silva et al, 2019 ), energetics/efficiency ( Figueiredo et al, 2016 ; Barbosa et al, 2019 ), and dry-land strength and power ( Girold et al, 2012 ; Strzala et al, 2019 ). However, most recent research trends highlighted swimming performance as a holistic phenomenon that is strongly dependent from the interaction between several variables of different scientific fields ( Figueiredo et al, 2016 ; Morais et al, 2021 ). The potential interaction between swimming performance determinants (i.e., scientific fields, domains, and variables that may determine or predict swimming performance) provides the platform for different and multiple patterns of behavior to emerge on an individual basis.…”

Underwater Surface Electromyography for the Evaluation of Muscle Activity during Front Crawl Swimming: A Systematic Review

“…For the purpose of providing more comprehensive evaluation and optimization of swimming performance, previous research has demonstrated and suggested to consider multiple factors, including, anthropometrics, gender, age, or skill level/experience (Morais et al, 2021b; for comparison and evaluation. Therefore, without sufficient participants' information and variety of study population, this might limit our understanding of certain population and unable to use scientific evidence to support the planning of different trainings.…”