Relation between efficiency and energy cost with coordination in aquatic locomotion

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2013-03, Vol.113 (3), p.651-659
• Main Authors: Figueiredo, Pedro, Toussaint, Huub M., Vilas-Boas, João Paulo, Fernandes, Ricardo J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceleration; Adult; Arm - physiology; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Education; Energy; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Human Physiology; Humans; Locomotion - physiology; Male; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Sports Medicine; Swimming; Swimming - physiology; Velocity; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-012-2468-8

The aim of this study was to establish the relationships between the intracycle velocity variation (IVV) and Froude efficiency (η T ), energy cost (C), and index of coordination (IdC) throughout a 200-m freestyle race. Ten male international level swimmers performed a maximum 200 m front crawl swim. Performance was recorded with four below- and two above-water synchronized cameras. Oxygen consumption was measured continuously during the effort, and blood samples were collected before and after the test. IdC, body center of mass’ IVV ( x , y and z ), and η T were also calculated. For assessing C swimmers performed also 50, 100 and 150 m at the same pace as in the 200-m splits to capture blood lactate samples after each 50-m lap of the 200-m effort. Swimmers attained a stable IVV ( x , y , and z ), as fatigue development along the 200-m effort induced a decrease in velocity, stroke length, stroke frequency, η T , and an increase of IdC. Direct relationships between C and IdC for the second and fourth lap were found: R  = 0.63 and R  = 0.69 ( P