Evaluation of muscle fatigue during 100-m front crawl

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate muscle fatigue in upper body muscles during 100-m all-out front crawl. Surface electromyogram (EMG) was collected from the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii muscles of 11 experienced swimmers. Blood lactate concentration level increased to 14.1±2.9mmoll(-1) 5min after the swim. The velocity, stroke length and stroke rate calculated based on video analysis decreased by 15.0, 5.8 and 7.4%, respectively, during the swim. EMG amplitude of the triceps and the lower part of the latissimus muscles increased, whilst the mean power frequency (MNF) of all muscles significantly decreased by 20-25%. No significant differences in the relative MNF decrease were observed amongst the muscles; however, the differences in the rate of the MNF decrease between the lower part of the latissimus and the triceps brachii muscles were found (P<0.05). The time of rest between the muscle activation of the two consecutive arm strokes at the end of swimming was extended (P<0.05). It was concluded that 100-m all-out crawl induced significant fatigue with no evident differences amongst the analysed muscles.