Front crawl kinematics for swimmers and triathletes under different intensity and breathing condition

Abstract

ABSTRACT Front crawl swimming kinematics parameters of 15 front-crawl competitive swimmers (nine sprint and six long distance athletes) and seven triathletes were compared. Mean stroke length (CB), mean stroke rate (FB), mean swimming velocity (VN) and mean stroke index (IN) were determined under six different swimming conditions: three specific intensities (slow, moderate and fast) with and without breathing. Six trials of 25 m under the intensities and breathing described conditions were recorded in the sagital plane with a motion analisys system (60 Hz). A reflective landmark was fixed on the swimmers' right wrist to determine the kinematics parameters. Stature, mass and upper limbs length were also measured in all participants. Statistical analyses (p < 0.05) indicated that sprinters were taller and had longer upper limbs than triathletes, but these results did not affect the groups. kinematics data comparisons. As intensity of swimming increased, CB decreased, FB increased, VN increased and IN did not show a consistent behavior for all groups. To increase VN, all groups enhanced FB as the adopted strategy. IN seems to be not an adequate index to assess swimming kinematics. Breathing motion modifies VN in sprinters and triathletes.