200-m Front Crawl Swimming Research Articles

The effects of sodium hydrogen carbonate ingestion during the recovery period between two 200-m front-crawl time trials

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine how sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion during a 1-h recovery period after a 200-m front-crawl swim affects blood–gas levels, acid–base balance, and performance during a successive trial.MethodsFourteen national-level male swimmers (age: 21 ± 3 years, body mass (BM):77 ± 10 kg, stature: 181 ± 7 cm) performed four maximal 200-m front-crawl tests. On one of the two days, the swimmers swam two 200-m tests with a 1-h recovery break, during which they drank water (WATER); on the other day, they performed the same protocol but consumed 0.3 g min−1 NaHCO3 solution during the recovery break (NaHCO3).ResultsThe ingestion of NaHCO3 before the second test had no effect on swim time despite a greater [HCO3-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${HCO}_{3}^{-}$$\\end{document}] (19.2 ± 2.3 mmol L−1) than that measured during the first test (NaHCO3) (14.5 ± 1.1 mmol L−1) and the other two tests (WATER) (12.7 ± 2.4 and 14.8 ± 1.5 mmol L−1; F = 18.554; p = 0.000) and a higher blood pH (7.46 ± 0.03) than that measured during the first test (NaHCO3) (7.39 ± 0.02) and the other two tests (WATER) (7.16 ± 0.04 and 7.20 ± 0.05); (F = 5.255; p = 0.004). An increase in blood pCO2 (0.2 ± 0.3 kPa) between both tests (NaHCO3) compared to unchanged pCO2 values (− 0.1 ± 0.3 kPa) between the other two tests (WATER) (t = − 2.984; p = 0.011; power = 0.741) was confirmed.ConclusionsNaHCO3 ingestion during the recovery period between two 200-m front-crawl time trials had a strong buffering effect that did not positively affect performance. An increase in pCO2 may have counterbalanced this impact.

Arm-Stroke Descriptor Variability during 200-m Front Crawl Swimming.

The present study aimed to explore the variability of the arm-stroke temporal descriptors between and within laps during middle-distance swimming event using IMMUs. Eight male swimmers performed a 200-m maximum front-crawl in which the inter-lap and intra-lap variability of velocity, stroke rate, stroke-phases duration and arm-coordination index were measured through five units of IMMU. An algorithm computes the 3D coordinates of the wrist by means the IMMU orientation and the kinematic chain of upper arm biomechanical model, and it recognizes the start events of the four arm-stroke phases. Velocity and stroke rate had a mean value of 1.47 ± 0.10 m·s−1 and 32.94 ± 4.84 cycles·min−1, respectively, and a significant decrease along the 200-m (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.80 and 0.47). The end of each lap showed significantly lower stroke rate compared to the start and the middle segment (p < 0.05; η2 = 0.55). No other significant inter-lap and intra-lap differences were detected. The two main findings are: (i) IMMUs technology can be an effective solution to continuously monitor the temporal descriptors during the swimming trial; (ii) swimmers are able to keep stable their temporal technique descriptors in a middle-distance event, despite the decrease of velocity and stroke rate.

Effect of an 11-Week In-Water Training Program With Increased Resistance on the Swimming Performance and the Basic Kinematic Characteristics of the Front Crawl Stroke.

Gourgoulis, V, Valkoumas, I, Boli, A, Aggeloussis, N, and Antoniou, P. Effect of an 11-week in-water training program with increased resistance on the swimming performance and the basic kinematic characteristics of the front crawl stroke. J Strength Cond Res 33(1): 95-103, 2019-The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of an 11-week in-water training program with increased resistance on the swimming performance and the basic kinematic characteristics of the front crawl stroke in young female swimmers. Twelve swimmers were matched in pairs according to their best performance in 50-m front crawl swimming and then were randomly assigned to an experimental or to a control group. Both groups followed exactly the same swimming training program. The only exception was that the experimental group performed a sprint training section with increased resistance pulling a water parachute, whereas the control group performed the same section without parachute. Before and after the intervention program, the best performance of both groups in 50-, 100-, and 200-m front crawl swimming were assessed. Moreover, the basic kinematic characteristics of the stroke were calculated during 50-m front crawl swimming with maximal intensity. Two-way repeated measures analyses of variance revealed significant improvement in the best performance in all swimming distances only in the experimental group (3.22-7.26%). As far as the basic kinematic characteristics of the stroke are concerned, significant modifications were found only in the mean swimming velocity in the experimental group (2.18%), whereas no significant changes were observed in the stroke length, the stroke rate, and the duration of the propulsive, and nonpropulsive phases in both groups. Thus, the findings of the current study revealed a positive effect of the in-water resistance training program in the swimming performance of young female swimmers of moderate performance level, without any negative influence in the basic kinematic characteristics of the stroke.

The Relationship Between Propulsive Force in Tethered Swimming and 200-m Front Crawl Performance

Santos, KB, Bento, PCB, Pereira, G, and Rodacki, ALF. The relationship between propulsive force in tethered swimming and 200-m front crawl performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2500-2507, 2016-The aims of this study were to determine whether propulsive force (peak force, mean force, impulse, and rate of force development) and stroke rate change during 2 minutes of front crawl tethered swimming and to correlate them with the stroke rate and swimming velocity in 200-m front crawl swimming. Twenty-one swimmers (21.6 ± 4.8 years, 1.78 ± 0.06 m, 71.7 ± 8.1 kg), with 200-m front crawl swimming performance equivalent to 78% of the world record (140.4 ± 10.1 seconds), were assessed during 2 minutes of maximal front crawl tethered swimming (propulsive forces and stroke rate) and 200-m front crawl swimming (stroke rate and clean velocity). Propulsive forces decreased between the beginning and the middle instants (∼20%; p ≤ 0.05) but remained stable between the middle and the end instants (∼6%; p > 0.05). The peak force was positively correlated with the clean velocity in the 200-m front crawl swimming (mean r = 0.61; p < 0.02). The stroke rates of the tethered swimming and 200-m front crawl swimming were positively correlated (r = 45; p≤ 0.01) at the middle instant. Therefore, the propulsive force and stroke rate changed throughout the 2 minutes of tethered swimming, and the peak force is the best propulsive force variable tested that correlated with 200-m front crawl swimming performance.

A 200-m All-out Front-crawl Swim Modifies Competitive Swimmers' Shoulder Joint Position Sense.

We tested the hypothesis that an all-out-effort 200-m front-crawl swim trial affects competitive swimmers' shoulder joint position sense. On Day 1, we measured shoulder joint position sense before and after the swim trial, and on Day 2 before and after 2 min of seated rest. On both days, shoulder joint position sense was measured in the seated position using electromagnetic movement sensors in a position-matching paradigm. An investigator abducted participants' left (reference) shoulder joint in the frontal plane to test angles of 90°, 135°, and 180°. Participants then actively abducted the right (indicator) shoulder joint to match the position of the left, reference arm. After the 200-m all-out front-crawl swim trial, the indicator relative to the reference angle differed by 4.4° toward adduction at the 180° (vertical) testing position (P<0.05). Variation in absolute matching error was 3.2° or 2.2 times greater after swim compared with the no-swim control trial. An all-out 200-m front-crawl swim trial can selectively increase competitive swimmers' shoulder joint position sense error and increase variation in matching error in horizontal arm position.

An electromyographic evaluation of dual role breathing and upper body muscles in response to front crawl swimming.

The upper body trunk musculature is key in supporting breathing, propulsion, and stabilization during front crawl swimming. The aim of this study was to determine if the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior contributed to the development of inspiratory muscle fatigue observed following front crawl swimming. Fourteen trained swimmers completed a 200-m front crawl swim at 90% of race pace. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (PImax and PEmax) were assessed before (baseline) and after each swim, and electromyography was recorded from the three muscles. Post-swim PImax fell by 11% (P < 0.001, d = 0.57) and the median frequency (MDF: a measure of fatigue) of the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior fell to 90% (P = 0.001, d = 1.57), 87% (P = 0.001, r = -0.60) and 89% (P = 0.018, d = 1.04) of baseline, respectively. The fall in serratus anterior MDF was correlated with breathing frequency (r = 0.675, P = 0.008) and stroke rate (r = 0.639, P = 0.014). The results suggest that the occurrence of inspiratory muscle fatigue was partly caused by fatigue of these muscles, and that breathing frequency and stroke rate particularly affect the serratus anterior.

Upper- and lower-limb muscular fatigue during the 200-m front crawl

The aim of this study was to investigate how upper- and lower-limb muscle fatigue evolves in a 200-m front crawl swimming race. Surface electromyography signals were collected from the flexor carpi radialis, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major, upper trapezius, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and rectus femoris muscles of 10 international-level swimmers; 4 underwater cameras were used for kinematic analysis. In addition, blood lactate was measured before and after the test using capillary blood samples. Swimming speed and stroke length decreased from the beginning to the end of the effort, whereas stroke frequency increased after an initial decrease to maintain speed. Concomitant with the decrease in speed, blood lactate increased to 11.12 (1.65) mmol·L(-1). The changes in stroke parameters were associated with an increase in integrated electromyography (20%-25%) and a decrease in spectral parameters (40%-60%) for all of the upper-limb muscles, indicating the reaching of submaximal fatigue. The fatigue process did not occur regularly during the 8 laps of the 200 m but was specific for each muscle and each subject. Lower-limb muscles did not present signals of fatigue, confirming their lower contribution to swimming propulsion. The test was conducted to individualize the training process to each muscle and each subject.

Intracycle Velocity Variation of the Body Centre of Mass in Front Crawl

Our aim was to determine the 3-dimensional intracycle velocity variation (IVV) of the body centre of mass during a 200-m front crawl event, and to analyse its relation with the segmental hand kinematics and the velocity (v) changes. 10 high-level male swimmers performed a 200-m front crawl swim at maximal intensity. 2 above- and 4 underwater cameras were used to record one complete non-breathing cycle for each 50-m lap, and APASystem was used for imaging processing. The coefficient of variation was calculated to assess the IVV in the horizontal (x), vertical (y), and lateral (z) axes; hand kinematics was also computed. IVV remained stable across the 200 m, and significant correlations were found between vx and vmaxx (r=0.55), vminx (r = 0.68), IVVx (r = -0.45), and IVVz (r = -0.45) (all p≤0.01). In addition, IVVx was correlated with the backward horizontal amplitude normalized to stroke length (r = 0.54), IVVy with hand angular velocity (r = -0.40), and IVVz with the elbow angle range in the pull phase (r = - 0.37) (all p<0.05). This study shows the stability of the IVV (x,y,z), the inverse relation of the IVV (x, z) with v, the direct relation of the vmaxx and vminx with v, and the influence of the hand kinematics in the IVV.

Inspiratory Muscle Fatigue Significantly Affects Breathing Frequency, Stroke Rate, and Stroke Length during 200-m Front-Crawl Swimming

The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) on total breaths taken (f(tot)), breaths per minute (f(b)), stroke count (SC), stroke rate (SR), and stroke length (SL) during constant velocity front-crawl swimming. Eight collegiate swimmers undertook a 200-m front-crawl swim on 2 separate occasions. On 1 occasion, IMF was induced immediately before the swim (IMF trial), and on the other occasion, the swim was undertaken in the absence of IMF (control trial). Trials were administered using a randomized crossover design and at a swimming velocity equivalent to 85% of race pace: Pilot testing identified this as being the fastest pace, which did not induce IMF. Maximal inspiratory mouth pressure, which was measured at the mouth and from residual volume, fell by 17% (p < 0.05) in response to IMF but was unchanged in response to the swim itself (p < 0.05). When compared to the control trial, f(tot), f(b), SC, and SR increased (p < 0.05) and SL decreased (p < 0.05) in response to IMF. These data suggest that the increase in f(tot) and f(b) in the presence of IMF occurred, in part, in an attempt to alleviate dyspnea. As a result, SL decreased and SR and SC increased, although variability in the SR and SC response did occur. However, as a number of identical muscles are recruited during deep inspirations and the front-crawl arm stroke, the possibility that arm coordination was changed, in part, to compensate for a reduced force-generating capacity per arm stroke should not be overlooked.

The effect of critical speed and exercise intensity on stroke phase duration and bilateral asymmetry in 200-m front crawl swimming

The main aim of this study was to determine the absolute temporal relationship between the power and recovery phases of the stroke cycle in front crawl swimming in response to progressive changes in exercise intensity that occurred before and after critical speed. A second objective was to determine whether intensity-related changes in the power/recovery phase relationship affects the bilateral symmetry of the stroke. Stroke parameters were recorded for each 25-m length during a progressive 200-m interval training set, in which eight (2 males, 6 females) national-level swimmers swam at intensities below, above, and at critical speed. The results demonstrated that substantial increases in stroke rate (P < 0.01) occurred at critical speed, and that these increases were related to a greater decrease in the duration of the power phase than the recovery phase (P < 0.01). The results also show that the degree of bilateral asymmetry was greater for the power phase than the recovery phase, and was inversely related to intensity in both phases of the stroke cycle. The findings of this study suggest that critical speed-related increases in stroke rate are an indirect consequence of increased force production in the power phase of the stroke, and that bilateral asymmetry is both intensity- and stroke-phase dependent.

An energy balance of the 200 m front crawl race

The purpose of the present study was to determine the relative contribution of the aerobic (Aer), anaerobic lactic (AnL) and alactic (AnAl) energy sources during each of the four laps of a 200m front crawl race. Additionally, energy cost (C) and arm stroke efficiency were also computed. Ten international swimmers performed a 200m front crawl swim, as well as 50, 100, and 150m at the 200m pace. Oxygen consumption was measured during the 200m swim and blood samples were collected before and after each swim; the C of swimming was calculated as the ratio of E (tot) to distance (where E (tot)=Aer+AnL+AnAl). Arm stroke efficiency was calculated by kinematic analysis as the speed of center of mass to the ratio of 3D hand speed. For the 200m the contributions were 65.9% (Aer), 13.6% (AnL), and 20.4% (AnAl) whereas for each lap they were 44.6, 73.2, 83.3 and 66.6% (Aer), 14.1, 5.0, 4.4 and 28.1% (AnL) and 41.3, 21.8, 12.3 and 5.2% (AnAl) for the four laps, respectively. For the 200m as a whole C was 1.60kJm(-1) whereas C=1.71, 1.56, 1.44 and 1.70kJm(-1) for each consecutive lap, respectively. Arm stroke efficiency ranged from 0.40 to 0.43 and was significantly lower in the last lap as compared to the first (P=0.002), suggesting the occurrence of fatigue. The decrease in arm stroke efficiency was mirrored by an increase in C as can be expected on theoretical grounds.

Shoulder and Hip Roll Changes during 200-m Front Crawl Swimming

To determine accurately the magnitude and changes in shoulder roll (SR) and hip roll (HR) throughout a 200-m maximum front crawl swim and whether SR and HR were associated with swimming velocity (V). Bilateral roll asymmetries and timing differences between SR and HR were also investigated. Ten male swimmers of national/international level performed a maximum 200-m front crawl swim. Performance was recorded with four below- and two above-water synchronized cameras and four nonbreathing stroke cycles (SC) were analyzed (one for each 50 m). SR and HR were calculated separately. Swimmers rolled their shoulders significantly more than their hips (P < 0.001). V generally decreased during the test, and HR was significantly higher in SC4 than in SC1 (P = 0.001). SR had a negative and significant correlation with V in each SC (-0.663 <or= r <or= -0.634, 0.037 <or= P <or= 0.049), with the exception of SC4. Although several roll profiles existed, left-side SR dominance was identified, with swimmers rolling their shoulders significantly more to the left than to the right side (0.000 <or= P <or= 0.022). Despite individual differences in the timings of maximum SR and HR to the left and right sides, no consistent pattern was found for the group. Separate calculation is required for SR and HR to explore their influence on front crawl swimming. Faster swimmers tended to roll their shoulders less than slower swimmers. The increase in HR as the test progressed is possibly associated with a decrease in stroke frequency and increase in SC duration. Given that all swimmers were right-handed and that SR was significantly greater to the left than to the right side, it seems that factors related to handedness might affect SR symmetry in swimming.