Propulsive Force Asymmetry during Tethered-Swimming

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 2013-07, Vol.34 (7), p.606-611
• Main Authors: dos Santos, K. B., Pereira, G., Papoti, M., Bento, P.C. B., Rodacki, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletic Performance - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Exercise Test - methods; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Swimming - physiology; Time Factors; Training & Testing; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1327575

Abstract This study aimed to determine whether: i) tethe­red-swimming can be used to identify the asymmetry during front crawl swimming style; ii) swimmers that perform unilateral breathing present greater asymmetry in comparison to others that use bilateral breathing; iii) swimmers of best performance present smaller asymmetry than their counterparts; iv) repeated front crawl swimming movements influence body asymmetry. 18 swimmers were assessed for propulsive force parameters (peak force, mean force, impulse and rate of force development) during a maximal front crawl tethered-swimming test lasting 2 min. A factorial analysis showed that propulsive forces decreased at the beginning, intermediate and end of the test (p0.05). When performance was considered (below or above mean group time), a larger asymmetry was found in the sub-group of lower performance in comparison to those of best performance (p