Swim Test Research Articles

Barriers to Swimming Lessons for Children.

Barriers to Swimming Lessons for Children.

The Impact of the Guidance Technique of Stopping Negative Thinking on reducing Psychological Reluctance in Swimming Lessons among Female Students of Physical Education and Sports Science

The significance of the current research lies in studying the impact of the Guidance Technique (Stopping Negative Thinking) to reduce psychological reluctance in swimming lessons among female students of Physical Education and Sports Sciences highlighting the concept of psychological reluctance and how to confront it in the swimming lessons. The research provides a comprehensive and integrated theoretical framework that benefits the guiding process, contributing to the development of guiding programs that help reduce or eliminate psychological reluctance. Additionally, this research offers a psychological reluctance scale, aiding in the evaluation and diagnosis of students for the purpose of guiding them. The research addressed an important segment represented by female students of the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, so the aim of the current research is to identify the impact of the guidance program according to the method (stopping negative thinking) to reduce psychological reluctance in the swimming lesson among female students of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, and achieving the research goal required the construction of two tools, namely: Firstly, a psychological reluctance scale in swimming lessons for female students of Physical Education and Sports Sciences. Secondly, a guiding program using the (Stopping Negative Thinking) method, consisting of 12 guiding sessions for female students of the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the University of Baghdad, who exhibited high scores on the psychological reluctance scale in swimming lessons. To achieve this objective, the researchers employed the descriptive survey approach in developing the psychological reluctance scale and used the experimental method, with a pre-test and post-test design, for both the experimental and control groups, aligning with the research problem. The results indicated that the guiding method (Stopping Negative Thinking) had a significant effect in reducing psychological reluctance among female students of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, with a statistically significant difference compared to the control group.

Research on the Integration of Swimming Courses and Ideological and Political Education in Colleges and Universities from the Perspective of “Curriculum Ideology and Politics”

This article presents an analysis of the forms and results of integrating university swimming courses with ideological and political education, with a particular focus on the “ideology and politics of the curriculum.” The study employs questionnaires and experimental measures administered to university students to analyze the role of swimming courses in reducing anxiety levels and to discuss strategies for integrating them into ideological and political education. The findings indicate that swimming lessons have a marked effect in reducing students’ anxiety levels and enhancing their mental well-being. The incorporation of ideological and political education, including “red stories” (narratives related to the history and ideology of the Communist Party of China), team competitions, and situational learning, into the curriculum has been observed to enhance students’ patriotism, sense of social responsibility, and teamwork spirit. The study demonstrates the efficacy of integrating swimming courses with ideological and political education, providing theoretical and empirical support for the integration of physical education courses with ideological and political education in universities.

The Effectiveness and Validity of Inspiratory Muscle Training in the Training Process of Disabled Swimmers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of medium-intensity inspiratory muscle training added to standard swimming training on inspiratory muscle strength and aerobic endurance levels and training status in disabled swimming athletes. Methods: This study involved 16 disabled athletes: group I-athletes performing swimming training with 8 weeks inspiratory muscle training-IMT (50% of the maximum inspiratory pressure); group II-athletes performing standard swimming training with 8 weeks inspiratory muscle training (15% MIP). The following tests were performed three times: MIP, MEP, Borg RPE scale and swimming test: T-30 test; 8 × 100 progressive test. Results: There was a significant increase in the MIP and MEP in group I after IMT. There was a significant increase in the distance swam during the T-30 only in group I after IMT. Significant differences were found between the first and third measurements in group I, and the effect was maintained at follow-up. There was also a significant reduction in La concentration in group I after IMT. There was a significant reduction in heart rate at 88% and 93% of the maximum speed in group I after the applied training. Conclusion: Inspiratory muscle training with 50% of the maximum inspiratory pressure load significantly increased the respiratory muscle strength of disabled swimmers. The application of higher-intensity IMT effectively improved the training level and physiological parameters of the swimmers' effort, indicating the need to include this type of training in the standard preparation of disabled swimmers.

THE EFFECTS OF SWIMMING ON BODY POSTURE IN PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

In this study we analyzed the effects of swimming on the posture of preschool children. The sample for this study consisted of 153 preschool boys and girls children aged 4-6 years (standard deviation= 1.1 years) living in Canton Sarajevo and divided into two groups of boys and girls, with one attended swimming school (n=61) and other did not (n=92). In order to evaluate the postural status, we used a reduced Napoleon Wolanski method with eight variables for the observed body parts: assessment of head posture (HPA), assessment of shoulder posture (SPA), assessment of scapular posture (SBPA), assessment of chest posture (CPA), scoliotic posture (SCP), assessment of abdominal posture (APA), assessment of leg posture (LPA), and assessment of foot posture (FPA). The results indicated a great effect of swimming on posture. We concluded the paper with some suggestions on how to incorporate swimming programs into regular school curricula.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication between Coach and Trainees during Swimming Lessons

The article presents the process of communication between the coach and the trainees during swimming lessons. The focus falls on verbal communication through the use of terminology specific to the sport and non-verbal communication through the implementation of particular signs. Swimming is a sport that is a 465 Биляна Рангелова, Красимира Дешева, Петър Тодоров combination of specific physical movements of the body and a specific technique for breathing and exhaling in a non-human environment – water. Furthermore, swimming is suitable for practicing by children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), due to the fact that it allows the achievement of social integration, on the one hand, and the development of the physical condition of the body, on the other. Practicing the sport of swimming poses various challenges, as the person with SEND may have one or more disabilities that require an individual approach. Practicing the sport in an aquatic environment further complicates the communication between a coach and a trainee. In this respect, both verbal and non- verbal communication can be used. For instance, with visually impaired children, communication involves verbal commands and instructions that must be clear and understandable. For children with impaired hearing and/or speech, communication is carried out through gestures and facial expressions similar to sign language. The article will review the literature on the problem and will provide practical examples of the application of different types of communication during swimming lessons. The article has been written as part of the activities of the project “Innovative system of verbal and non-verbal means of communication within physical education and sports activities for children with SEND”, financed by the SUMMIT Sofia University Marking Momentum for Innovation and Technological Transfer Project.

Challenges to young children’s swimming lesson participation in New South Wales, Australia

BackgroundChild swimming lessons are a key intervention for drowning prevention; however, participation has been severely affected by COVID-19 restrictions and cost-of-living challenges. To encourage re-engagement, the New South Wales government...

Water safe Worcester: student-led drowning prevention in an adolescent underserved population.

Adolescents aged 15 to 19 years have the second highest fatal drowning rate of any age group, second only to toddlers aged 12 to 36 months. This risk is amplified in black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and those of low socioeconomic status. Worcester, MA is a diverse city with over 40% of residents identifying as BIPOC and 20% living below the poverty line. The city has multiple natural bodies of water available for recreation, putting Worcester residents, particularly adolescents, at high risk of drowning. It is known that swimming lessons provided to adolescents significantly improve their swimming skills, however many programs are tailored to young children and are not appropriate for adolescents. Students from the University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan Medical School (UMass Chan), in collaboration with community partners, developed a water safety and swim education program tailored to Worcester adolescents as a means for an age-appropriate swim experience and education, community engagement, and injury prevention. Water Safe Worcester (WSW) was established as a city-wide injury prevention program that included swim lessons offered by medical students at the Central Community Branch YMCA in Worcester, MA. Instructors included UMass Chan medical students, graduate students, and staff. Adolescent YMCA members were invited to participate in lessons free of charge. Lessons were 90 min and emphasized a 3-fold approach: (1) expand knowledge of water safety and what to do in an emergency, (2) increase swimming skills, and (3) reduce fear of water. The overall attendance for the 2023 spring and summer sessions offered was 73 students, including multiple swimmers who attended more than one session. A total of 12 volunteers participated, which included 9 first-year medical students, one PhD student, one research assistant, and one surgery resident from UMass Chan. WSW demonstrated promising outcomes during its swim education classes, suggesting that WSW is a successful model to promote water safety, reduce the risk of drowning, and expand access to life-saving skills to Worcester's at-risk adolescents. This program serves as a critical step toward health equity while also providing an avenue for public health and injury prevention exposure for medical students.

Parent/carer experiences and challenges in redeeming the First Lap swimming lesson voucher in New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT Rationale Swimming is a popular, enjoyable, and important form of physical activity. Swimming skills play a vital role in water safety and drowning prevention, particularly among young children. The First Lap program is a New South Wales government swimming lesson subsidy voucher program for preschool-aged children. This study examined parent/carer program views and experiences in 2021–2022, specifically reasons for voucher non-redemption. Approach A thematic analysis examined 1031 parent/carer qualitative responses concerning reasons for voucher non-redemption and overall views and experiences of the program in an online parent/carer survey.Findings: Voucher non-redemption was evident through: seasonal, weather and health; program parameter; parent/carer (user); and swim school (provider) themes. Despite non-redemption, parent/carer program views were additionally evident through: positive feedback about the program and its objectives; evidence of knowledge and awareness of the importance of water safety and learning to swim; lesson affordability concerns. Practical implications Swim school and lesson availability, accessibility, and affordability can be addressed through clear engagement and communication with both the user and provider sides. Research contribution Reasons for First Lap voucher non-redemption represent barriers to swimming lesson participation for preschool-aged children. Originality Voucher programs must consider the impacts of the broader socio-ecological context and ecosystem.

Weight, relief and overcoming: a safe space for racialized women learning to swim in Sweden

ABSTRACT This article aims to contribute to the nascent field of critical phenomenology in geography by elaborating on a feminist-phenomenological understanding of the conceptual binary of weight–relief and Nietzsche’s (self)overcoming. These notions provide a theoretical language for the universality of the human condition, transcending the tendency for theoretical-political reification of marginalized subjects’ lives and agencies. The empirical component consists of in-depth interviews with predominantly non-white, immigrant women who have either learned or taught other adult women to swim in a women-only swimming school founded in the multicultural suburb of Fisksätra, Stockholm, Sweden. By historicizing and contextualizing this setting, it is argued that the lack of swimming ability in Sweden (and elsewhere) is today a partly racialized phenomenon, where this deficiency constitutes a socio-phenomenological weight in individuals’ everyday geographies. What this gender-exclusionary space enables, in its quality as a ‘safe space’, is not so much the integration or securing of minority identities as the possibility to overcome one’s own fears and bodily challenges regarding water through shared experiences of safety, convivial solidarity and the joyful pleasures of being-in-water together.

The Science behind Ashwagandha: A Review of its Therapeutic Potential

Ashwagandha, scientifically known as Withania somnifera, holds a prominent place in Ayurvedic medicine. It has served as a rejuvenating tonic, nootropic, and a potent natural adaptogen. This herb extract has been widely employed for overall health and specific health conditions. It boasts a rich history of over 3,000 years of use in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicinal systems on the Indian subcontinent. One of its key attributes is the presence of bioactive compounds called withanolides, with withaferin-A and withanolide-D being particularly noteworthy. In experimental studies, Ashwagandha has demonstrated its ability to enhance endurance in rats during swimming tests and shield against stress-induced changes in adrenal gland components like ascorbic acid and cortisol. Pre-treatment with Ashwagandha has exhibited significant protection against stress-induced gastric ulcers. Moreover, it has shown anti-tumor effects on CHO cell carcinoma and was effective against lung adenoma induced by urethane in mice. In some instances, Ashwagandha has been used to manage conditions like uterine fibroids and dermatosarcoma with long-term treatment. It has also demonstrated cognitive enhancement, proving beneficial for children with memory deficits and elderly individuals experiencing memory loss. Additionally, Ashwagandha has shown promise in addressing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Alzheimer's. Its anxiolytic properties, as well as its ability to boost energy levels and support mitochondrial health, make it a valuable natural remedy. Furthermore, it serves as an anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic agent, finding application in clinical cases of Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis.

Vital Signs: Drowning Death Rates, Self-Reported Swimming Skill, Swimming Lesson Participation, and Recreational Water Exposure — United States, 2019–2023

<i>Vital Signs</i>: Drowning Death Rates, Self-Reported Swimming Skill, Swimming Lesson Participation, and Recreational Water Exposure — United States, 2019–2023

MiR-101a-3p/ROCK2 axis regulates neuronal injury in Parkinson's disease models.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). This study focuses on deciphering the role of microRNA (miR)-101a-3p in the neuronal injury of PD and its regulatory mechanism. We constructed a mouse model of PD by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP), and used 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) to treat Neuro-2a cells to construct an in-vitro PD model. Neurological dysfunction in mice was evaluated by swimming test and traction test. qRT-PCR was utilized to examine miR-101a-3p expression and ROCK2 expression in mouse brain tissues and Neuro-2a cells. Western blot was conducted to detect the expression of α-synuclein protein and ROCK2 in mouse brain tissues and Neuro-2a cells. The targeting relationship between miR-101a-3p and ROCK2 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The apoptosis of neuro-2a cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Low miR-101a-3p expression and high ROCK2 expression were found in the brain tissues of PD mice and MPP+-treated Neuro-2a cells; PD mice showed decreased neurological disorders, and apoptosis of Neuro-2a cells was increased after MPP+ treatment, both of which were accompanied by increased accumulation of α-synuclein protein. After miR-101a-3p was overexpressed, the neurological function of PD mice was improved, and the apoptosis of Neuro-2a cells induced by MPP+ was alleviated, and the accumulation of α-synuclein protein was reduced; ROCK2 overexpression counteracted the protective effect of miR-101a-3p. Additionally, ROCK2 was identified as the direct target of miR-101a-3p. MiR-101a-3p can reduce neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficit in PD mice by inhibiting ROCK2 expression, suggesting that miR-101a-3p is a promising therapeutic target for PD.

The effect of varied training methods with smaller class sizes on students' front crawl swimming skills

However, the swimming learning process sometimes generalizes these abilities. The purpose of this study was to reveal the effect of varied training methods with smaller class sizes on students' front crawl swimming skills. The research used an experiment with a one-group pre-test-post-test design. The study population was 93 students, they take swimming lessons at the Sports Education Study Program, Garut University the 2022/2023 Academic Year. The sampling technique uses purposive sampling. The sample that reached the criteria was 22 students. The research instrument used a front crawl swimming skills test. Research procedure - giving treatment with varied methods with smaller class sizes. The data analysis technique uses Paired Sample t Test. Treatment with varied lesson delivery with smaller class sizes obtained sig values. (2-tailed) of 0.000. Based on the results of the research, findings revealed the value of sig. (2-tailed) obtained is 0.000. The score was lower than 0.05, so it was concluded that the method's effect varied with smaller class sizes on students' swimming skills on the front crawling swimming skills. The conclusion of this study is that using classroom settings and methods can affect swimming skills and front crawling style.

Using of innovative methods during swimming lessons summary

The article offers theoretical and practical material on teaching swimming using innovative technologies during physical classes. In the modern scientific field, various concepts of swimming training have been developed, including holistic-separate, sequential, sequential-parallel and accelerated models, as well as those that use support and technical means. Within these models, different teaching methods and strategies are used, focused on specific pedagogical tasks and audience characteristics. Swimming is considered as a complex skill that requires the separate development of each swimming element: holding your breath, diving, surfacing, lying down, sliding, hand work, leg work, proper breathing. For ego acquisition, the method of repeated repetition of swimming exercises in water is used, which is a combination of studied exercises. Mastering a wide range of swimming movements in all types of swimming, from elementary to sports and elements of applied swimming, initially facilitates the choice of a simpler method, which facilitates the further study of others. In classes, not only standard, but also modular equipment should be used. This approach allows you to reduce the time needed to master swimming skills. The use of innovative technologies in the process of learning to swim contributes to the formation of interest in a healthy lifestyle, increases the level of swimming readiness and functional capabilities of the body. Swimming lessons are innovative in nature and are designed to develop skills that allow you to stay afloat in non-standard situations of everyday life. The article examines and summarizes data on the use of modern innovative methods and technologies of teaching swimming. When introducing innovative technologies into the process of learning to swim, it is necessary to adhere to such technological criteria as efficiency, systematicity, structuredness, scientificity, and procedurality. Innovative methods of teaching swimming include modern approaches and technologies that are designed to facilitate and improve the process of learning this skill. Similar methods can be gradually introduced into the process of physical education.

Investigation of Factors Related to Sport-Specific Compulsory Element Execution in Artistic Swimming.

Artistic swimming is an Olympic sport requiring a high level of fitness, as well as technical skills, artistry, flexibility, a good sense of rhythm, remarkable lung capacity and physical strength. The artistic swimming of adolescents has been largely untouched by the scientific community, so training this group based on scientific data is difficult. Due to the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, this study aimed to measure the technical elements, strength parameters, and swimming performance of young artistic swimmers and to compare swimming performance and strength with the quality of artistic element performances. Hungarian female junior artistic swimmers (14.36 ± 1.01 year) participated in this study. Swimming tests were performed, and three basic elements (body boost, barracuda, and vertical position) were scored. A negative correlation was found between 100 m freestyle swimming times and vertical position scores, as well as between 50 m breaststroke leg swimming times and body boost scores. Moreover, three months of breaststroke leg swim training resulted in improvements in body boost performance. In addition, a positive correlation was found between mean hand grip strength and barracuda scores, as well as between vertical position scores. According to the results of three months of breaststroke leg training, swimming practice improves artistic swimming performance by itself. A correlation was found between strength parameters and the execution of synchro elements, showing the importance of complex training strategies in this sport.

Study on the influence of queue modes on the hydrodynamic performance of fish schooling swimming

In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were used to investigate how different queue patterns affect the hydrodynamic performance of fish schooling. Various queue modes—such as tandem, parallel, and rectangular—were simulated to analyze fish swimming behaviors and hydrodynamics. Results indicated that both the queue pattern and fish spacing influence collective fish swimming. In tandem queues, fish exhibited improved speeds, with leading fish showing a 39.3% increase in cruising speed compared to single fish at dy =0.3L. However, larger spacing led to decreased fish speeds, with two fish at dy =1.2L nearing the speed of a single fish (0.12 and 0.02L/s differences). In parallel queues, fish swimming speed was lower than that of a single fish, especially when dx =1.5D, with inner fish cruising at 49.9% of a single fish's speed. Yet, increased spacing at dx =4D saw speeds nearing equality (0.01L/s differences), suggesting reduced queue impact. Rectangular queues showcased varying fish speeds, notably with outer rear fish displaying superior propulsion. As spacing increased, all fish tended toward a single fish's speed. Analyses of single fish, including acceleration and wake interactions, revealed collective movement utilizing vortices to generate thrust and create low-pressure zones, thus enhancing hydrodynamics. This research sheds light on how queue modes and spacing affect fish collective behavior and swimming dynamics, offering insights into collective dynamics and biological behaviors.

Energy conservation by collective movement in schooling fish

Many animals moving through fluids exhibit highly coordinated group movement that is thought to reduce the cost of locomotion. However, direct energetic measurements demonstrating the energy-saving benefits of fluid-mediated collective movements remain elusive. By characterizing both aerobic and anaerobic metabolic energy contributions in schools of giant danio (Devario aequipinnatus), we discovered that fish schools have a concave upward shaped metabolism–speed curve, with a minimum metabolic cost at ~1 body length s-1. We demonstrate that fish schools reduce total energy expenditure (TEE) per tail beat by up to 56% compared to solitary fish. When reaching their maximum sustained swimming speed, fish swimming in schools had a 44% higher maximum aerobic performance and used 65% less non-aerobic energy compared to solitary individuals, which lowered the TEE and total cost of transport by up to 53%, near the lowest recorded for any aquatic organism. Fish in schools also recovered from exercise 43% faster than solitary fish. The non-aerobic energetic savings that occur when fish in schools actively swim at high speed can considerably improve both peak and repeated performance which is likely to be beneficial for evading predators. These energetic savings may underlie the prevalence of coordinated group locomotion in fishes.

Energy conservation by collective movement in schooling fish.

Many animals moving through fluids exhibit highly coordinated group movement that is thought to reduce the cost of locomotion. However, direct energetic measurements demonstrating the energy-saving benefits of fluid-mediated collective movements remain elusive. By characterizing both aerobic and anaerobic metabolic energy contributions in schools of giant danio (Devario aequipinnatus), we discovered that fish schools have a concave upward shaped metabolism-speed curve, with a minimum metabolic cost at ~1 body length s-1. We demonstrate that fish schools reduce total energy expenditure (TEE) per tail beat by up to 56% compared to solitary fish. When reaching their maximum sustained swimming speed, fish swimming in schools had a 44% higher maximum aerobic performance and used 65% less non-aerobic energy compared to solitary individuals, which lowered the TEE and total cost of transport by up to 53%, near the lowest recorded for any aquatic organism. Fish in schools also recovered from exercise 43% faster than solitary fish. The non-aerobic energetic savings that occur when fish in schools actively swim at high speed can considerably improve both peak and repeated performance which is likely to be beneficial for evading predators. These energetic savings may underlie the prevalence of coordinated group locomotion in fishes.

Child drowning mortality in Israel: Trends and measures for prevention

Introduction: In this study, we use the media-based database of Beterem-Safe Kids Israel, to provide a 15-year review of unintentional fatal childhood drowning in Israel, between 2008 and 2022. Method: It total, we identified 257 cases of child mortality due to drowning during this period. Results: Our results demonstrate a gradual rise in childhood mortality due to drowning, from 72 cases in 2008–2012, to 85 cases in 2013–2017, and to 100 cases in 2018–2022. Especially worth noting is the increase in childhood drowning in domestic swimming pools. We point to a link between low socioeconomic status and cases of drowning, showing that the risk of drowning extends beyond a mere matter of caregiver inattention. We recommend a series of regulatory and legislative steps to reduce fatal childhood drowning, including fencing built around domestic swimming pools, extending lifeguard activity hours, adding declared beaches, forming programs of safe behavior in water environments for adolescents, and establishing swimming lessons during the 2nd grade, for all populations. We further recommend that a special focus will be put in municipalities situated at the bottom of the socioeconomic index.