Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(01): 49-55
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321889
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Kinematic and Electromyographic Changes During 200 m Front Crawl at Race Pace

P. Figueiredo
1   Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
,
R. Sanders
2   PESLS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
,
T. Gorski
3   Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
,
J. P. Vilas-Boas
1   Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
4   Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
,
R. J. Fernandes
1   Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
4   Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf



accepted after revision 25. Juni 2012

Publikationsdatum:
17. August 2012 (online)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse eventual kinematic and electromyographic changes during a maximal 200 m front crawl at race pace. 10 male international level swimmers performed a 200 m maximal front crawl test. Images were recorded by 2 above and 4 under water cameras, and electromyographic signals (EMG) of 7 upper and lower limbs muscles were analysed for 1 stroke cycle in each 50 m lap. Capillary blood lactate concentrations were collected before and after the test. The variables of interest were: swimming speed, stroke length, stroke and kick frequency, hand angular velocity, upper limb and foot displacement, elbow angle, shoulder and roll angle, duration of stroke phases, and EMG for each muscle in each stroke phase. Generally, the kinematic parameters decreased, and a relative duration increased for the entry and pull phases and decreased for the recovery phase. Muscle activation of flexor carpi radialis, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, peitoral major and upper trapezius increased during specific stroke phases over the test. Blood lactate concentration increased significantly after the test. These findings suggest the occurrence of fatigue, characterised by changes in kinematic parameters and selective changes in upper limbs muscle activation according to muscle action.

 
  • References

  • 1 Abdel-Aziz Y, Karara H. Direct linear transformation: from comparator coordinates into object coordinates in close range photogrammetry. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Close-Range Photogrammetry. Illinois: Church Falls; 1971: 1-18
  • 2 Alberty M, Potdevin F, Dekerle J, Pelayo P, Gorce P., Sidney M. Changes in swimming technique during time to exhaustion at freely chosen and controlled stroke rates. J Sports Sci 2008; 26: 1191-1200
  • 3 Alberty M, Sidney M, Huot-Marchand F, Hespel JM, Pelayo P. Intracyclic velocity variations and arm coordination during exhaustive exercise in front crawl stroke. Int J Sports Med 2005; 26: 471-475
  • 4 Alberty M, Sidney M, Pelayo P, Toussaint HM. Stroking characteristics during time to exhaustion tests. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 637-644
  • 5 Aujouannet YA, Bonifazi M, Hintzy F, Vuillerme N, Rouard AH. Effects of a high-intensity swim test on kinematic parameters in high-level athletes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2006; 31: 150-158
  • 6 Barden JM, Kell RT, Kobsar D. The effect of critical speed and exercise intensity on stroke phase duration and bilateral asymmetry in 200-m front crawl swimming. J Sports Sci 2011; 29: 517-526
  • 7 Berger MA, Hollander AP, de Groot G. Determining propulsive force in front crawl swimming: a comparison of two methods. J Sports Sci 1999; 17: 97-105
  • 8 Cappaert JM. Biomechanics of swimming analysed by three-dimensional techniques. In: Keskinen KL, Komi PV, Hollander AP. (eds.). Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming VIII. Jyvaskyla, Finland: University of Jyvaskyla; 1999: 141-145
  • 9 Caty V, Aujouannet Y, Hintzy F, Bonifazi M, Clarys JP, Rouard AH. Wrist stabilisation and forearm muscle coactivation during freestyle swimming. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2007; 17: 285-291
  • 10 Chollet D, Chalies S, Chatard JC. A new index of coordination for the crawl: description and usefulness. Int J Sports Med 2000; 21: 54-59
  • 11 Clarys JP, Cabri J. Electromyography and the study of sports movements: a review. J Sports Sci 1993; 11: 379-448
  • 12 Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988
  • 13 Craig Jr AB, Skehan PL, Pawelczyk JA, Boomer WL. Velocity, stroke rate, and distance per stroke during elite swimming competition. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1985; 17: 625-634
  • 14 de Jesus K, Figueiredo P, Goncalves P, Pereira S, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. Biomechanical analysis of backstroke swimming starts. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 546-551
  • 15 de Leva P. Adjustments to Zatsiorsky-Seluyanov's segment inertia parameters. J Biomech 1996; 29: 1223-1230
  • 16 Deschodt V. Modifications de la trajectoire aquatique du poignet liées à l’apparition de la fatigue lors d’exercices intermittents en natation. Science et Motricité 1999; 37: 19-25
  • 17 Deschodt VJ, Arsac LM, Rouard AH. Relative contribution of arms and legs in humans to propulsion in 25-m sprint front-crawl swimming. Eur J Appl Physiol 1999; 80: 192-199
  • 18 Figueiredo P, Machado L, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. Reconstruction error of calibration volume’s coordinates for 3D swimming kinematics. J Hum Kinet 2011; 29: 45-50
  • 19 Figueiredo P, Zamparo P, Sousa A, Vilas-Boas JP, Fernandes RJ. An energy balance of the 200 m front crawl race. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 767-777
  • 20 Gourgoulis V, Antoniou P, Aggeloussis N, Mavridis G, Kasimatis P, Vezos N, Boli A, Mavromatis G. Kinematic characteristics of the stroke and orientation of the hand during front crawl resisted swimming. J Sports Sci 2010; 28: 1165-1173
  • 21 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
  • 22 Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G.. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2000; 10: 361-374
  • 23 Hollander AP, de Groot G, Van Ingen Schenau GJ. Contribution of the legs in front crawl swimming. In: Ungerecht BE, Wilke K, Reischie K. (eds.). Swimming Science. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 1988: 39-43
  • 24 Maglischo EW. Swimming fastest. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2003
  • 25 McCabe CB, Psycharakis S, Sanders R. Kinematic differences between front crawl sprint and distance swimmers at sprint pace. J Sports Sci 2011; 29: 115-123
  • 26 Merletti R, Knaflitz M, De Luca CJ. Myoelectric manifestations of fatigue in voluntary and electrically elicited contractions. J Appl Physiol 1990; 69: 1810-1820
  • 27 Monteil KM, Rouard AH, Dufour AB, Troup JP. EMG of the shoulder muscles during an exhaustive front crawl test realised in a flume. Paper presented at the XIVth International Society of Biomechanics Congress. Pari, 1993
  • 28 Ogita F, Hara M, Tabata I. Anaerobic capacity and maximal oxygen uptake during arm stroke, leg kicking and whole body swimming. Acta Physiol Scand 1996; 157: 435-441
  • 29 Payton CJ, Bartlett RM, Baltzopoulos V, Coombs R. Upper extremity kinematics and body roll during preferred-side breathing and breath-holding front crawl swimming. J Sports Sci 1999; 17: 689-696
  • 30 Psycharakis SG, Sanders RH. Shoulder and hip roll changes during 200-m front crawl swimming. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40: 2129-2136
  • 31 Psycharakis SG, Sanders RH. Body roll in swimming: a review. J Sports Sci 2010; 28: 229-236
  • 32 Rouard AH, Billat RP, Deschodt V, Clarys JP. Muscular activations during repetitions of sculling movements up to exhaustion in swimming. Arch Physiol Biochem 1997; 105: 655-662
  • 33 Rouard AH, Clarys JP. Cocontraction in the elbow and shoulder muscles during rapid cyclic movements in an aquatic environment. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 1995; 5: 177-183
  • 34 Rouard AH, Quezel G, Billat RP. Effects of speed on EMG and kinematic parameters in feestyle. In: Maclaren D, Reilly T, Lees A. (eds.). Swimming Science VI. Vol. VI. London: E & FN Spon; 1992: 93-97
  • 35 Sanders RH. Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a swimmer's hand. J Appl Biomech 1999; 15: 3-26
  • 36 Sanders RH. Kinematics, coordination, variability, and biological noise in the prone flutter kick at different levels of a “learn-to-swim” programme. J Sports Sci 2007; 25: 213-227
  • 37 Schnitzler C, Seifert L, Alberty M, Chollet D. Hip velocity and arm coordination in front crawl swimming. Int J Sports Med 2010; 31: 875-881
  • 38 Stirn I, Jarm T, Kapus V, Strojnik V. Evaluation of muscle fatigue during 100-m front crawl. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 101-113
  • 39 Suito H, Ikegami Y, Nunome H, Sano S, Shinkai H, Tsujimoto N. The effect of fatigue on the underwater arm stroke motion in the 100-m front crawl. J Appl Biomech 2008; 24: 316-324
  • 40 Toussaint HM, Carol A, Kranenborg H, Truijens MJ. Effect of fatigue on stroking characteristics in an arms-only 100-m front-crawl race. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006; 38: 1635-1642
  • 41 Toussaint HM, Van den Berg C, Beek WJ. “Pumped-up propulsion” during front crawl swimming. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 314-319
  • 42 Vescovi JD, Falenchuk O, Wells GD. Blood lactate concentration and clearance in elite swimmers during competition. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2011; 6: 106-117
  • 43 Wakayoshi K, Moritani T, Mutoh Y, Miyashita M. Electromyographic evidence of selective muscle fatigue during competitive swimming. In: Miyashita M, Mutoh Y, Richardson AB. (eds.). Medicine and Sport Science. Vol. 39. Basel: Karger; 1994: 16-23
  • 44 Winter EM, Eston RG, Lamb KL. Statistical analyses in the physiology of exercise and kinanthropometry. J Sports Sci 2001; 19: 761-775
  • 45 Yanai T. Stroke frequency in front crawl: its mechanical link to the fluid forces required in non-propulsive directions. J Biomech 2003; 36: 53-62