Abstract
The breaststroke kick is responsible for a considerable portion of the forward propulsion in breaststroke swimming. The aim of this study was to measure selected anthropometric variables and functional properties of a swimmer’s body: length of body parts; functional range of motion in the leg joints and anaerobic power of the lower limbs. Chosen kinematic variables useful in the evaluation of swimming performance in the breaststroke kick were evaluated. In the present research, swimming speed using breaststroke kicks depended to the largest extent on anaerobic endurance (0.46, p < 0.05 partial correlations with age control). In addition, knee external rotation and swimming technique index had an impact on swimming speed and kick length (both partial correlations with age control 0.35, p < 0.08). A kinematic analysis of the breaststroke kick hip displacement compatible with horizontal body displacement was significantly negatively correlated with foot slip in the water opposite to body displacement (partial correlations: with leg length control −0.43, p < 0.05; with shank length control −0.45, p < 0.05, respectively). Present research and measurements of selected body properties, physical endurance and kinematic movement analysis may help in making a precise determination of an athlete’s talent for breaststroke swimming.
Highlights
In breaststroke swimming, according to the International Federation for Swimming FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur), rules that do not apply to any other swimming style determine the stroke cycle from the start and throughout the race; the stroke cycle must consist of an arm stroke and a leg kick that occur in sequence
Research on advanced kinematic analysis proved that the leg kick is the largest propulsive force of the stroke and that it occurs as the third propulsive force in the breaststroke movement cycle (Mason et al, 1989)
The anaerobic endurance index showed an average relation with swimming speed
Summary
In breaststroke swimming, according to the International Federation for Swimming FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur), rules that do not apply to any other swimming style determine the stroke cycle from the start and throughout the race; the stroke cycle must consist of an arm stroke and a leg kick that occur in sequence. The arm stroke and the leg kick produce similar propulsion forces. The second propulsive stage was hypothesised to be the swimmer catching the wave produced by the swimming action itself with the relatively large surface of the trunk moving forwards against a still, incompressible water volume (Mason et al, 1989). It was recognised in a study by Kippenhan (1991) that the breaststroke kick, especially the whip kick,
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