Core stability training and young para-swimmers' results on 50 meters and 100 meters freestyle

Abstract

Background: Central stabilization training aims to improve neuromuscular coordination. It is used to prevent injuries and complement swimmers’ training process. The aim of the study was to access the impact of this training on the results by disabled swimmers at 50 and 100 meters’ freestyle. Material/Method: 20 competitors with similar dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group, participated in the study. Each group consisted of 7 swimmers starting in competitions from the standing starting position and 3 starting from water. The study included a 4-week set of stabilization exercises, 4 times a week instead of pulling by legs. Exercises were performed under specialist swimming conditions and involved controlled circuit muscles movements, while maintaining a floating stable position in the water. Results: All groups improved their “best times”, besides swimmers starting from the standing position in the control group. There were no significance differences between intergroup and intra-group results, both at distance 50 and 100 meters’ freestyle. Conclusions. Better improvements in the experimental group were noted, but this effect cannot be attributed to 4-week stabilization training. However, this investigation might suggest that this type of training could be beneficial for junior disabled swimmers.