Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of different sizes of hand paddles on kinematic parameters during a 100 m freestyle swimming performance in elite swimmers. Nine elite swimmers (19.1 ± 1.9 years) completed three tests of 100 m without paddles, with small paddles (271.27 cm2) and with large paddles (332.67 cm2), respectively. One video camera was used to record the performance during the three trials. The mean swimming velocity, stroke rate and stroke length were measured in the central 10 meters of each 50 m length. The results showed that stroke length tended to increase significantly when wearing hand paddles (p < 0.05) during both the first and second 50 m sections whereas the increase in swimming velocity occurred only in the second 50 m (p < 0.05). Conversely, the stroke rate showed a slight decreasing trend with increasing paddle size. During the 100 m freestyle trial the stroke kinematics were changed significantly as a result of the increase in propelling surface size when hand paddles were worn.
Highlights
During the past 30 years swimming performance has been studied from different perspectives
Several studies have evaluated the potential changes that auxiliary materials such as a swimming parachute or hand paddles can make to swimming performance (Llop et al, 2002; Gourgoulis et al, 2008a; 2009; Telles et al, 2011)
An increasing trend in the average velocity during the first 50 m was found, but no significant differences were observed between paddle conditions
Summary
During the past 30 years swimming performance has been studied from different perspectives. Some research has attempted to explain the influence of kinematic parameters on elite swimmers’ performance as well as their relationship over different competition distances (East, 1971; Craig et al, 1985; Keskinen et al, 1989; Arellano et al, 1994). Most of these studies have suggested that long stroke lengths are related to high average velocity of male elite swimmers. Hand paddles provide improvements in strength and aerobic performance, but have been shown to have a diverse effect on swimming kinematics (Toussaint, 1990; Lauder and Newell, 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
