Swimming sprint performance depends on upper/lower limbs strength and swimmers level. 2023

Diogo D Carvalho, and Ana Sofia Monteiro, and Pedro Fonseca, and António J Silva, and J Paulo Vilas-Boas, and David B Pyne, and Ricardo J Fernandes
Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Swimming performance is likely influenced by strength, but differences between butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and front crawl, as well as between novice and expert swimmers, are unclear. We have examined the associations between sprint performances, upper and lower limb strength, and anthropometric characteristics in 14 (six males and eight females) non-elite and 16 (nine males and seven females) elite-level swimmers. After an anthropometric characterisation, participants performed four 25 m maximal swims (one per technique) with 10 min intervals, right and left shoulder flexion/extension isokinetic testing at 90 and 300º/s angular velocities and three countermovement jumps. Pearson correlation analysis showed that sprint times were moderate-largely negatively correlated with upper and lower limb strength and power (r ± 95%CI = 0.39 ± 0.26-0.77 ± 0.13, p < 0.05). Elite swimmers higher strength levels were associated with longer stroke length in butterfly and front crawl, and with higher stroke rate in backstroke and breaststroke (r ± 95%CI = 0.37 ± 0.32-0.68 ± 0.21; p < 0.05). Butterfly, backstroke and front crawl sprint times were moderate-largely negatively related with arm span (r ± 95%CI = 0.37 ± 0.26, 0.39 ± 0.25 and 0.69 ± 0.17, p < 0.05). The predictive model indicated that higher dry-land strength values distinguished elite from non-elite swimmers (r2 = 0.67-0.81; p < 0.001). This association was not observed per performance level and per sex, confirming that sprint swimming performance levels can be differentiated by dry-land strength testing.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000886 Anthropometry The technique that deals with the measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the human or other primate body.
D012782 Shoulder Part of the body in humans and primates where the arms connect to the trunk. The shoulder has five joints; ACROMIOCLAVICULAR joint, CORACOCLAVICULAR joint, GLENOHUMERAL joint, scapulathoracic joint, and STERNOCLAVICULAR joint. Shoulders
D013550 Swimming An activity in which the body is propelled through water by specific movement of the arms and/or the legs. Swimming as propulsion through water by the movement of limbs, tail, or fins of animals is often studied as a form of PHYSICAL EXERTION or endurance.
D034941 Upper Extremity The region of the upper limb in animals, extending from the deltoid region to the HAND, and including the ARM; AXILLA; and SHOULDER. Extremity, Upper,Membrum superius,Upper Limb,Extremities, Upper,Limb, Upper,Limbs, Upper,Upper Extremities,Upper Limbs
D035002 Lower Extremity The region of the lower limb in animals, extending from the gluteal region to the FOOT, and including the BUTTOCKS; HIP; and LEG. Extremity, Lower,Lower Limb,Membrum inferius,Extremities, Lower,Limb, Lower,Limbs, Lower,Lower Extremities,Lower Limbs

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