Abstract
This study investigated behavioral adaptability, which could be defined as a blend between stability and flexibility of the limbs movement and their inter-limb coordination, when individuals received informational constraints. Seven expert breaststroke swimmers performed three 200-m in breaststroke at constant submaximal intensity. Each trial was performed randomly in a different coordination pattern: ‘freely-chosen’, ‘maximal glide’ and ‘minimal glide’. Two underwater and four aerial cameras enabled 3D movement analysis in order to assess elbow and knee angles, elbow-knee pair coordination, intra-cyclic velocity variations of the center of mass, stroke rate and stroke length and inter-limb coordination. The energy cost of locomotion was calculated from gas exchanges and blood lactate concentration. The results showed significantly higher glide, intra-cyclic velocity variations and energy cost under ‘maximal glide’ compared to ‘freely-chosen’ instructional conditions, as well as higher reorganization of limb movement and inter-limb coordination (p<0.05). In the ‘minimal glide’ condition, the swimmers did not show significantly shorter glide and lower energy cost, but they exhibited significantly lower deceleration of the center of mass, as well as modified limb movement and inter-limb coordination (p<0.05). These results highlight that a variety of structural adaptations can functionally satisfy the task-goal.
Highlights
Dexterity was defined by Bernstein [1] as the expert’s ability to reach the goal of a task correctly, quickly, rationally, efficiently and with resourcefulness
We defend a model of expertise that articulates stability and flexibility: experts and non-experts have their own stable states and sometimes share the same coordination patterns; the characteristics of experts are their capacity for adaptability, i.e. to be stable when needed but variable depending of varying conditions [5]
The main result shows that leg propulsion and body glide phases were adapted when the swimmers were instructed to swim with ‘maximal glide’ or ‘minimal glide’
Summary
Dexterity was defined by Bernstein [1] as the expert’s ability to reach the goal of a task correctly (movement outcome), quickly, rationally (movement organization), efficiently and with resourcefulness. Beyond passive adaptation to external disturbance, Bernstein [1] defined active changes in the movement processing (i.e., initiative), as the ability to search a route for an optimal result. Behavior is characterized by stable and reproducible movement patterns and coordinative structures These patterns are stable in the sense that the functional form of movement is consistent over time, resists to perturbation and is reproducible; e.g. a similar pattern may recur on different task and environmental constraints. We defend a model of expertise that articulates stability and flexibility: experts and non-experts have their own stable states and sometimes share the same coordination patterns; the characteristics of experts are their capacity for adaptability, i.e. to be stable when needed but variable depending of varying conditions [5]. Optimization refers to the energy or mechanical economy and/or efficiency that individuals are able to produce by exploiting the passive, inertial and mechanical properties of body segments in order to perform economical and fluid movement [9,11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
