Importance of sagittal kick symmetry for underwater dolphin kick performance

•Sagittal kick symmetry is highly related to high UDK velocity (Vx).•Swimmers who are more effective at the upkick phase tend to have a faster Vx.•Greater peak vertical toe velocity during upkick is strongly related to faster Vx.•Reduced upkick duration is strongly related to faster Vx.•Peak vertica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human movement science 2014-02, Vol.33, p.298-311
Main Authors: Atkison, Ryan R., Dickey, James P., Dragunas, Andrew, Nolte, Volker
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Adult
Athletic Performance - physiology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Competitive Behavior - physiology
Downkick
Functional Laterality - physiology
Humans
Kinematics
Male
Motor Skills - physiology
Sports
Swimming
Swimming - physiology
Upkick
Young Adult
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Summary:•Sagittal kick symmetry is highly related to high UDK velocity (Vx).•Swimmers who are more effective at the upkick phase tend to have a faster Vx.•Greater peak vertical toe velocity during upkick is strongly related to faster Vx.•Reduced upkick duration is strongly related to faster Vx.•Peak vertical toe velocity is related to magnitude and timing of CM acceleration. The purpose of this study was to determine how sagittal kick symmetry in the underwater dolphin kick (UDK) between the downkick and upkick phases is related to UDK performance. Fifteen adult male competitive swimmers ranging from provincial to international level were filmed performing three trials each of maximum effort UDK over 15m using an underwater video camera. Video frames were manually digitized and each subjects’ single fastest trial was evaluated for between-subject comparisons. Kinematic variables were calculated for each individual and Pearson product-moment correlations between the average horizontal centre of mass velocity (Vx) and all kinematic variables were calculated. Horizontal velocity during the downkick, horizontal velocity during the upkick, relative time spent in each phase, maximum chest flexion angle, maximum knee and ankle extension angles, the ratio of flexion/extension for chest, knee and ankle angles, and maximum vertical toe velocity during the upkick phase correlated significantly with Vx (p
ISSN:0167-9457
1872-7646
DOI:10.1016/j.humov.2013.08.013