Effects of strength training on swimming performance

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of strength training on swimming performance. Sixteen male swimmers (21.93 years ± 2.17) were randomly assigned to control (CG / n = 8) and experimental (EG / n = 8) groups. The water session was the same for both groups. The EG was also submitted to power strength training. Data were collected in the third (Pre) and seventeenth (Post) week. Mean speeds were collected in 25 m (T25) and 50 m (T50). It was also used the one maximum repetition test (1RM) and maximum repetitions with 70% of 1RM (RSM) during thirty seconds in the bench press (BP), high pulley (HPU) and leg press 45º (LPI). Changes between Pre and Post were detected by analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) followed by Scheffé post-hoc test (p < 0.05). T25 improved significantly for both groups (5.21% - CG and 3.74% - EG). T50 also increased for both groups (5.69% - GC and 5.33% - EG). Significant differences between groups were detected in Pre for T50 and Post for T50 and T25. EG 1RM test showed improvements (p < 0.05) of 16.46% in BP, 17.34% in HPU and 25.31% in LPI. CG showed significant differences only in LPI (14.01%). No significant differences were found in RSM for both groups. Despite of strength improvement in EG, CG presented better performance. In this study, the strength training methodology did not influence positively swimming performance.