Abstract
BackgroundThe block phase in the swimming start requires a quick reaction to the starting signal and a large take-off velocity that is primarily horizontal in direction. Due to the principle of specificity of training, there is a potential benefit of performing a greater proportion of horizontal force production exercises in a swimmers’ dry-land resistance training sessions. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to provide an insight into the effects of a horizontal- (HF) vs vertical-force (VF) training intervention on swim start performance.MethodsEleven competitive swimmers (six males (age 20.9 ± 1.8 years, body mass 77.3 ± 9.7 kg, height 1.78 ± 0.05 m) and five females (age 21.4 ± 2.0 years, body mass 67.5 ± 7.4 kg, height 1.69 ± 0.05 m)) completed 2 weekly sessions of either a horizontal- or vertical-force focused resistance training programme for 8 weeks. Squat jump force-time characteristics and swim start kinetic and kinematic parameters were collected pre- and post-intervention.ResultsAcross the study duration, the swimmers completed an average of nine swimming sessions per week with an average weekly swim volume of 45.5 ± 17.7 km (HF group) and 53 ± 20.0 km (VF group), but little practice of the swim start per week (n = 9). Within-group analyses indicated a significant increase in predicted one repetition maximum (1RM) hip thrust strength in the HF group, as well as significant increases in grab resultant peak force but reductions in resultant peak force of the block phase for the VF group. No significant between-group differences in predicted 1RM hip thrust and back squat strength, squat jump force-time and swim start performance measures were observed after 8 weeks of training. Significant correlations in the change scores of five block kinetic variables to time to 5 m were observed, whereby increased block kinetic outputs were associated with a reduced time to 5 m. This may be indicative of individual responses to the different training programmes.DiscussionThe results of this current study have been unable to determine whether a horizontal- or vertical-force training programme enhances swim start performance after an 8-week training intervention. Some reasons for the lack of within and between group effects may reflect the large volume of concurrent training and the relative lack of any deliberate practice of the swim start. Larger samples and longer training duration may be required to determine whether significant differences occur between these training approaches. Such research should also look to investigate how a reduction in the concurrent training loads and/or an increase in the deliberate practice of the swim start may influence the potential changes in swim start performance.
Highlights
The important role that muscular strength and power play in enhancing swimming performance has led to the widespread adoption of dry-land resistance training modalities into a concurrent training model for competitive swimmers (Aspenes et al, 2009; Crowley, Harrison & Lyons, 2017; Haycraft & Robertson, 2015)
The potential direction specificity of resistance training exercises for improving aspects of swim start performance has been examined in two jump and plyometric training studies (Rebutini et al, 2014; Rejman et al, 2017) and two acute training studies utilising post-activation potentiation (PAP) (Cuenca-Fernandez, Lopez-Contreras & Arellano, 2015; Cuenca-Fernández et al, 2018)
The present pilot study was designed to provide some insight into the potential directional specificity of resistance training on swim start performance and squat jump (SJ) force-time characteristics in competitive swimmers
Summary
The important role that muscular strength and power play in enhancing swimming performance has led to the widespread adoption of dry-land resistance training modalities into a concurrent training model for competitive swimmers (Aspenes et al, 2009; Crowley, Harrison & Lyons, 2017; Haycraft & Robertson, 2015). Significant improvements in time to 5 m and 5.5 m, take-off velocity, horizontal forces and impulse were observed as a result of these plyometric exercise programmes (Bishop et al, 2009; Rebutini et al, 2014; Rejman et al, 2017). The potential direction specificity of resistance training exercises for improving aspects of swim start performance has been examined in two jump and plyometric training studies (Rebutini et al, 2014; Rejman et al, 2017) and two acute training studies utilising post-activation potentiation (PAP) (Cuenca-Fernandez, Lopez-Contreras & Arellano, 2015; Cuenca-Fernández et al, 2018). A secondary aim of the study was to better understand how changes in certain SJ force-time characteristics may be correlated with the changes in swim start performance in competitive swimmers
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