Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics, biomechanical variables and performance in the conventional swimming techniques in young and adolescent swimmers. A database search from 1 January 2001 to 30 June 2021 was done according to the PRISMA statement, with 43 studies being selected for analysis. Those manuscripts were divided in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and front crawl techniques as main categories. The results showed the importance of the anthropometric variables for the performance of the young swimmer, although there was a lack of variables common to the studies that analysed the butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke techniques. For the front crawl technique there is a consensus among studies on the advantage of having higher height and arm span values, variables that concurrently with high body mass and lean body mass values, contribute positively to better stroke length and stoke index values.
Highlights
The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics, biomechanical variables and performance in the conventional swimming techniques in young and adolescent swimmers
The included studies about the association between anthropometrical and biomechanical variables and performance were in larger number for the front crawl technique followed by breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, all with expressive fewer analysis
The lack of common measures between studies in butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke swimming techniques does not allow us to state which are the main anthropometric performance determining variables for these swimming techniques
Summary
The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics, biomechanical variables and performance in the conventional swimming techniques in young and adolescent swimmers. As swimming velocity equals the product of stroke frequency (number of upper limbs cycles per unit of time) and stroke length (space travelled during a complete upper limbs cycle and is assessed by the velocity vs stroke frequency ratio [8]), better understanding of the basic kinematical parameters behaviour and its relationship with velocity has been a major point of interest [2,9] Another variable often explored is the stroke index (obtained by the product of stroke length and velocity) that is considered a valid indicator of swimming efficiency in adult [10] and young swimmers [7,11]. Velocity increase or decrease happens due to a combined rise or reduction in stroke frequency and stroke length [8,9] This relationship can be influenced by several variables, among which the anthropometric characteristics, with somatic attributes being largely inherited and determining swimming technique to a highest degree [5,6]. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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