Abstract
Background: When in water, the Centers of Buoyancy (CoB) and Mass (CoM) of the human body are positioned cranially and caudally, respectively. With increasing distance between these centers, the sinking torque of the lower limbs increases, with a subsequent decrease in swimming performance due to increased drag. Objective: To clarify the effect of additional buoyancy swimsuits on swimming performance. Methods: The subjects were eight competitive male swimmers of mean ±SD age 21±2 years. Swimming performance was compared between Conventional (CS) and Additional Buoyancy Swimsuits (ABS). CoM and CoB were identified on land and in water, respectively, with the swimmers maintaining a horizontal posture. CoM was measured by the reaction board method. CoB was calculated as the force exerted in the vertical direction accompanied by changes in inspiratory volume. Swimming velocity and Blood Lactate (BL) concentration value during 200 m front crawl in trials at four different speeds (curve test) were recorded as swimming performance. Results: No significant difference in inspiratory volume was observed between CS and ABS (small effect size, d=0.28). The distance between CoM and CoB was significantly shorter for CS than ABS (p < 0.001; large effect size, d=1.08). Both swimming velocity at BL of 4 mmol·L-1 and maximal effort were significantly faster for ABS (p < 0.042; 0.008), with large effect size (d=0.91; 0.98). However, there was no significant difference in maximal BL between CS and ABS (small effect size, d=0.37). Conclusion: ABS improves swimming performance by streamlining the horizontal posture.
Highlights
When an object moves through the water, there is an exponential relationship between velocity and drag
No significant difference was found between Conventional Swimsuits (CSs) and Additional Buoyancy Swimsuits (ABS) regarding inspiratory volume at neutral buoyancy and center of mass (CoM), with a small effect size
Centers of Buoyancy (CoB) was significantly higher for CS than for ABS (0.62 cm, p < 0.034), and the effect size was small
Summary
When an object moves through the water, there is an exponential relationship between velocity and drag. The close relationship between swimming performance and drag can be understood in terms of differences between Conventional Swimsuits (CSs) used for daily training. Competitive swimmers use different swimsuits for daily training and for competitive races [5]. Manufacturers distinguish between swimsuit types, providing highly durable wear suitable for daily use as well as swimsuits that are less durable but enable the athlete to attain the highest levels of performance while supporting their posture and reducing drag. When comparing race swimsuits with CS, the increased coverage of the thighs with competitive swimsuits reduces friction due to skin and muscle, which reduces the frontal surface area [4, 16]. With increasing distance between these centers, the sinking torque of the lower limbs increases, with a subsequent decrease in swimming performance due to increased drag
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