Upper Limbs Movement Frequency: Connection to Swimming Performance and Kinematics.

Background

Stroke rate (SR) is a critical determinant of swimming speed and performance; however, the relationship between upper-limb movement frequency assessed on land and SR in water remains unclear.

Methods

This preliminary study examined the association between dry-land upper-limb movement frequency and in-water kinematics in ten male competitive swimmers (15.23 ± 1.06 years). Dry-land upper-limb movement frequency was evaluated through two maximum-effort trials consisting of 10-12 circular arm movements performed under a straight-arm condition (STRSR) and a swimming-technique-simulated bend-arm condition (TECHSR). All trials were video-recorded for analysis. In-water testing included a maximum-effort 50 m sprint and 8-12 × 25 m progressively increasing speed tests to elicit maximum swimming speed and maximum SR. SR, swimming speed, stroke length, and stroke index were calculated for all trials.

Results

No relationship was observed between dry-land upper-limb movement frequency and SR of the 50 m test (p > 0.05). However, the percentage difference between STRSR and maximum SR was associated with stroke index at maximum speed (r = -0.66, p = 0.04), maximum SR (r = -0.65, p = 0.04), and swimming speed at maximum SR (r = -0.72, p = 0.01) οf the 8-12 × 25 test. Similarly, TECHSR was correlated with stroke index at maximum speed, SR, and stroke length in the 8-12 × 25 test (r = -0.67 to -0.71, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that faster and more efficient swimmers exhibit a greater difference between their maximum dry-land movement frequency in upper limbs and the SR adopted in water, allowing a greater potential to adjust in a more comfortable and submaximal manner in water movements.