Quantifying stroke coordination during the breathing action in front-crawl swimming using an instantaneous net drag force profile

Danielle Formosa; Mark Sayers; Brendan J Burkett

doi:10.1080/02640414.2014.915424

Back

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Quantifying stroke coordination during the breathing action in front-crawl swimming using an instantaneous net drag force profile

Danielle Formosa, Mark Sayers and Brendan J Burkett

Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.32(18), pp.1729-1737

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.915424

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.915424View

Published Version

Abstract

swimming technique

biomechanics

stroke mechanics

kinetics

sport

This study used both an instantaneous net drag force profile and a symmetry timing to evaluate the effect of the breathing action on stroke coordination. Twenty elite swimmers completed a total of six randomised front-crawl towing trials: (i) three breathing trials and (ii) three non-breathing trials. The net drag force was measured using an assisted towing device mounted upon a Kistler force platform, and this equipment towed the swimmer at a constant speed. The net drag force profile was used to create a stroke symmetry index for each swimming trial. Analysis using the symmetry indices identified that the majority of participants demonstrated an asymmetrical instantaneous net drag force stroke profile in both the breathing and non-breathing conditions, despite no significant differences in the time from finger-tip entry to finger-tip exit. Within the breathing condition, the faster swimmers compared to the slower swimmers demonstrated a lesser percentage of overlap between stroke phases on their breathing stroke side. During the non-breathing condition, the faster participants compared to the slower swimmers recorded a reduction in the percentage of overlap between stroke phases and less duration in the underwater stroke on their breathing stroke side. This study identified that the majority of participants demonstrated an asymmetrical net drag force profile within both conditions; however, asymmetry was less prevalent when examining with only the timing symmetry index.

Details

Title: Quantifying stroke coordination during the breathing action in front-crawl swimming using an instantaneous net drag force profile
Authors: Danielle Formosa (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Mark Sayers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Brendan J Burkett (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.32(18), pp.1729-1737
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2014.915424
ISSN: 0264-0414
Organisation Unit: School of Health - High Performance Sport; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449049402621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

12 File views/ downloads

855 Record Views

10 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Web Of Science research areas: Sport Sciences