These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.
Pubmed for Handhelds
PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS
Search MEDLINE/PubMed
Title: Effect of fatigue on stroking characteristics in an arms-only 100-m front-crawl race. Author: Toussaint HM, Carol A, Kranenborg H, Truijens MJ. Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc; 2006 Sep; 38(9):1635-42. PubMed ID: 16960525. Abstract: PURPOSE: Race analyses during swimming provide information on the time-dependent values of, among other variables, a swimmer's clean swimming speed (v), stroke rate (SR), and stroke length (SL). The effect of fatigue on changes in v, SR, and SL was investigated. METHODS: Lap-averaged values of v, SR, and SL while swimming 100 m all out with arms only (trial 1) were related to the decline in mechanical power output measured during an all-out 100-m swim on the MAD system (trial 2), with legs immobilized in both trials. RESULTS: Swimming a 100-m front-crawl sprint using arms only led to a significant 24% decrease in lap-averaged mechanical power output (from 200 to 153 W, P < 0.01). This reduction in power-generating capacity led to a 12.4% decrease in v when lap 1 was compared with lap 4 (from 1.69 to 1.48 m x s(-1), P < 0.01). SR declined throughout the race by 10.6% from 0.85 Hz (lap 1) to 0.76 Hz (lap 4, P < 0.05). Analysis revealed that this decrease in SR was linearly related to the decrease in v. The reduction in SR reflected the reduced propulsive force required to overcome the v-dependent, and therefore lower, drag. CONCLUSION: Decreases in swimming speed throughout a 100-m front-crawl race are the result of decreases in the power-producing capacity of the swimmer (fatigue). This fatigue-induced reduction in swimming speed will lead to a reduction in drag. The SR seems to be accommodated to this reduced power output capacity and concomitant diminished propulsion requirements.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]