Comparison of strength values and laterality in various muscle contractions between competitive swimmers and untrained persons

Shinichi Demura,Shunsuke Yamaji,Yuta Yamamoto,Hiroki Aoki

doi:10.4236/health.2010.211185

Abstract

Competitive swimmers may gain a specific training effect as the result of long term exercise in the water. This study aimed to compare isometric, non-isokinetic and isokinetic muscle strengths in competitive swimmers and untrained persons. Twelve young male adults without exercise experience for over three years and twelve swimmers with over 10 years of competitive swimming experience performed various strength tests. Non-isokinetic tests were evaluated using one repetition of maximum half squat, vertical jump, and drop jump. Isometric and isokinetic (60 and 180 deg/s) muscle strengths were measured by both legs in knee extension and flexion. There were no significant differences between non-isokinetic and isometric muscle strengths of both groups. On the other hand, all isokinetic parameters in both angular velocities were significantly larger in competitive swimmers. There was significant laterality of isokinetic strength in untrained persons, but not in competitive swimmers. In addition, right and left differences of isokinetic strength tended to be smaller in competitive swimmers. In conclusion, competitive swimmers tended to be superior only in isokinetic strength, which is a similar muscle contraction in the water, and have less right and left differences.

Highlights

The exercise training effect depends largely on the training method, i.e., training region, muscle contraction property, and work load as indicated by the principle of specificity of training [1]
Competitive swimmers gain a specific training effect which differs from other athletes as the water training environment requires nearly isokinetic muscle contraction [2,3]
It is possible that competitive swimmers gain a training effect with superior muscle strength exertion during isokinetic contraction or in the latter range of motion as compared to other athletes on dry land or untrained persons

Summary

Introduction

The exercise training effect depends largely on the training method, i.e., training region, muscle contraction property, and work load as indicated by the principle of specificity of training [1]. Competitive swimmers gain a specific training effect which differs from other athletes as the water training environment requires nearly isokinetic muscle contraction [2,3]. In water, maximum muscle tension is required in the latter output phase because the drag becomes loads in all ranges of motion [4]. It is possible that competitive swimmers gain a training effect with superior muscle strength exertion during isokinetic contraction or in the latter range of motion as compared to other athletes on dry land or untrained persons. Tanaka and Swensen [6] pointed out that the incremental increases of muscle strength from traditional resistance training on dry land contributed little to the improvement of competitive swim performances and suggested that water training should be more swim-specific

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Conclusion