The transfer of strength and power into the stroke biomechanics of young swimmers over a 34-week period |
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| Authors: | Jorge E Morais António J Silva Nuno D Garrido Daniel A Marinho Tiago M Barbosa |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilh?, Portugal;2. Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugalmorais.jorgestrela@gmail.com;4. Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal;5. Department of Sport Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal;6. Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal;7. Department of Sport Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Bragan?a, Bragan?a, Portugal;8. National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to learn the interplay between dry-land strength and conditioning, and stroke biomechanics in young swimmers, during a 34-week training programme. Twenty-seven swimmers (overall: 13.33?±?0.85 years old; 11 boys: 13.5?±?0.75 years old; 16 girls: 13.2?±?0.92 years old) competing at regional- and national-level competitions were evaluated. The swimmers were submitted to a specific in-water and dry-land strength training over 34 weeks (and evaluated at three time points: pre-, mid-, and post-test; M1, M2, and M3, respectively). The 100-m freestyle performance was chosen as the main outcome (i.e. dependent variable). The arm span (AS; anthropometrics), throwing velocity (TV; strength), stroke length (SL), and stroke frequency (SF; kinematics) were selected as independent variables. There was a performance enhancement over time (M1 vs. M3: 68.72?±?5.57?s, 66.23?±?5.23?s; Δ?=??3.77%; 95% CI: ?3.98;?3.56) and an overall improvement of the remaining variables. At M1 and M2, all links between variables presented significant effects (p?p?≤?.05). Between M1 and M3, the direct effect of the TV to the stroke biomechanics parameters (SL and SF) increased. The model predicted 89%, 88%, and 92% of the performance at M1, M2, and M3, respectively, with a reasonable adjustment (i.e. goodness-of-fit M1: χ2/df?=?3.82; M2: χ2/df?=?3.08; M3: χ2/df?=?4.94). These findings show that strength and conditioning parameters have a direct effect on the stroke biomechanics, and the latter one on the swimming performance. |
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| Keywords: | Training performance biomechanics |
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