The freely-chosen swimming stroke rate in a maximal swim and on a biokinetic swim bench

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of the freely-chosen stroke rate (S) in swimming to attain maximum velocity. Seven club swimmers swam five 366-m freestyle trials, the first three at low to maximum velocities and the next two at higher stroke rates in an attempt to increase velocity further. A clear "inverted U" pattern was observed, the optimal stroke rate (Sopt) being the median rate of 45.8 (range 42-49) S X min-1. Each subject then performed a maximal experimental test on five separate occasions, simulating the freestyle arm action on a biokinetic swim bench. Stroke rate was manipulated according to the five rates used by each subject in the swim trials. The mean VO2peak on the biokinetic bench also varied as an "inverted U" curvilinear function of S, with the correlation between Sopt and the S at the highest VO2peak being 0.98 (P less than 0.001). Peak values for VO2, VE, and heart rate in simulated swimming were, respectively, 73%, 52%, and 85% of the maximal rates determined on a cycle ergometer. Maximum swimming velocity was not significantly correlated with VO2max or with VO2peak on the swim bench (P greater than 0.05). Results confirm that freely-chosen S produces the top performance in swimming to attain maximum velocity and the highest peak VO2 values in simulated swimming on a biokinetic bench.