Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(12): 1105-1112
DOI: 10.1055/a-1386-4985
Training & Testing

Propulsive Force of Upper Limbs and its Relationship to Swim Velocity in the Butterfly Stroke

Jorge Morais 
1   Department of Sport Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
2   Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
,
Tiago M. Barbosa 
1   Department of Sport Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
2   Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
,
Vitor P. Lopes 
1   Department of Sport Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
2   Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
,
Mario C Marques 
2   Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
3   Department of Sport Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
,
Daniel Almeida Marinho 
2   Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
3   Department of Sport Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
› Author Affiliations Funding This work is supported by national funds (FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) under the project UIDB/ DTP/04045/2020.
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The aims of this study were to: (1) verify the sex effect; (2) assess upper limb asymmetry in anthropometrics and propulsive force variables; and (3) identify the main determinants of butterfly swim velocity based on a set of anthropometrics, kinematics, and propulsive force variables. Twenty swimmers (10 males: 15.40±0.30 years; 10 females: 14.43±0.23 years) at the national level were recruited for analysis. A set of anthropometrics, kinematics, and propulsive force variables were measured. Overall, a significant sex effect was verified (p≤0.05). Non-significant differences between upper-limbs were noted for males and females in all variables, except for the dF in males (t=−2.66, p=0.026, d=0.66). Stroke frequency presented the highest contribution, where a one unit increase in the stroke frequency imposed an increase of 0.375 m·s-1 (95CI: 0.105;0.645, p=0.010) in the swim velocity. The swim velocity was predicted by the mean propulsive force, intra-cyclic variation of the swim velocity, and stroke frequency. Overall, swimmers exhibit non-significant differences in the variables assessed. Swim velocity in the butterfly stroke was determined by an interaction of propulsive force and kinematic variables in young swimmers.

Key words

biomechanics - kinetics - performance - youth


Publication History

Received: 26 October 2020

Accepted: 20 January 2021

Article published online:
16 April 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Staub I, Zinner C, Bieder A. et al. Within-sport specialisation and entry age as predictors of success among age group swimmers. Eur J Sport Sci. 2020 20: 1160–1167
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Toubekis AG, Tsami AP, Tokmakidis SP. Critical velocity and lactate threshold in young swimmers. Int J Sports Med 2006; 27: 117-123
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Oliveira M, Henrique RS, Queiroz DR. et al. Anthropometric variables, propulsive force and biological maturation: a mediation analysis in young swimmers. Eur J Sport Sci. 2020 Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1754468
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 Bartolomeu RF, Costa MJ, Barbosa TM. Contribution of limbs’ actions to the four competitive swimming strokes: A nonlinear approach. J Sports Sci 2018; 36: 1836-1845
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Nevill AM, Negra Y, Myers TD. et al. Key somatic variables associated with, and differences between the 4 swimming strokes. J Sports Sci 2020; 38: 787-794
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Zamparo P, Cortesi M, Gatta G. The energy cost of swimming and its determinants. Eur J Appl Physiol 2020; 120: 41-66
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Strzała M, Stanula A, Krężałek P. et al. Butterfly sprint swimming technique, analysis of somatic and spatial-temporal coordination variables. J Hum Kinet 2017; 60: 51-62
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Chollet D, Seifert L, Boulesteix L. et al. Arm to leg coordination in elite butterfly swimmers. Int J Sports Med 2006; 27: 322-329
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Morais JE, Forte P, Nevill AM. et al. Upper-limb kinematics and kinetics imbalances in the determinants of front-crawl swimming at maximal speed in young international level swimmers. Sci Rep 2020; 10: 11683
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Morouço P, Keskinen KL, Vilas-Boas JP. et al. Relationship between tethered forces and the four swimming techniques performance. J Appl Biomech 2011; 27: 161-169
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Gonjo T, Eriksrud O, Papoutsis F. et al. Relationships between a load-velocity profile and sprint performance in butterfly swimming. Int J Sports Med. 2020 41: 461–467
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 12 Dos Santos KB, Pereira G, Papoti M. et al. Propulsive force asymmetry during tethered-swimming. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 606-611
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Sanders R, Thow J, Alcock A. et al. How can asymmetries in swimming be identified and measured?. J Swim Res 2012; 19: 1-15
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Barbosa TM, Yam JW, Lum D. et al. Arm-pull thrust in human swimming and the effect of post-activation potentiation. Sci Rep 2020; 10: 8464
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Barbosa TM, Keskinen KL, Fernandes R. et al. Relationships between energetic, stroke determinants, and velocity in butterfly. Int J Sports Med 2005; 26: 841-846
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Silva A, Figueiredo P, Soares S. et al. Front crawl technical characterization of 11-to 13-year-old swimmers. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2012; 24: 409-419
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Harriss DJ, MacSween A, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2020 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 813-817
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Neiva HP, Marques MC, Fernandes RJ. et al. Does warm-up have a beneficial effect on 100-m freestyle?. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2014; 9: 145-150
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Seifert L, Chollet D, Sanders R. Does breathing disturb coordination in butterfly?. Int J Sports Med 2010; 31: 167-173
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Morais JE, Marques MC, Rodríguez-Rosell D. et al. Relationship between thrust, anthropometrics, and dry-land strength in a national junior swimming team. Phys Sportsmed 2020; 48: 304-311
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Morais JE, Jesus S, Lopes V. et al. Linking selected kinematic, anthropometric and hydrodynamic variables to young swimmer performance. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2012; 24: 649-664
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Barbosa TM, Bragada JA, Reis VM. et al. Energetics and biomechanics as determining factors of swimming performance: updating the state of the art. J Sci Med Sport 2010; 13: 262-269
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Gourgoulis V, Aggeloussis N, Mavridis G. et al. Acute effect of front crawl sprint resisted swimming on the propulsive forces of the hand. J Appl Biomech 2013; 29: 98-104
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Ferguson CJ. An effect size primer: A guide for clinicians and researchers. Prof Psychol Res Pract 2009; 40: 532-538
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum; 1988
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 26 Raudenbush SW, Bryk AS, Cheong AS. et al. HLM 7: Hierarchical Linear and Nonlinear Modeling. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International; 2011
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 27 Sammoud S, Nevill AM, Negra Y. et al. Key somatic variables in young backstroke swimmers. J Sports Sci 2019; 37: 1162-1167
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Silva AF, Figueiredo P, Seifert L. et al. Backstroke technical characterization of 11-13 year-old swimmers. J Sports Sci Med 2013; 12: 623-629
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Mason B, Tong Z, Richards R. Propulsion in the butterfly stroke. In: MacLaren D, Reilly T, Lees AE, Eds. Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming: Swimming Science VI. London: Spon; 1992: 81-86
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 30 Pereira GS, Schutz GR, Ruschel C. et al. Propulsive force symmetry generated during butterfly swimming. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum 2015; 17: 704-712
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 31 Schleihauf R, Higgins J, Hinrichs R. et al. Propulsive techniques: Front crawl stroke, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke. In: Ungerechts B, Wilke K, Reischle K, Eds. Swimming V. Illinois: Human Kinetics Books; 1988: 53-59
    CrossrefSearch in Google Scholar
  • 32 Sanders R. Some aspects of butterfly technique of New Zealand Pan Pacific squad swimmers. In: Troup JP, Hollander AP, Strasse D, Trappe SW, Cappaert JM, Trappe TAE, Eds. Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming VII. London: Spon; 1996: 23-28
    CrossrefSearch in Google Scholar
  • 33 Havriluk R. Performance level differences in swimming: relative contributions of strength and technique. In: Kjendlie P-L, Stallman RK, Cabri J, Eds. Proceedings of the XIth International Symposium for Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming. Oslo: Norwegian School of Sport Science; 2010: 321-323
    CrossrefSearch in Google Scholar
  • 34 Silva AF, Figueiredo P, Ribeiro J. et al. Integrated analysis of young swimmers' sprint performance. Motor Control 2019; 23: 354-364
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 35 Barbosa TM, Costa MJ, Morais JE. et al. Characterization of speed fluctuation and drag force in young swimmers: a gender comparison. Hum Mov Sci 2013; 32: 1214-1225
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 36 Toussaint HM, De Groot G, Savelberg HHCM. et al. Active drag related to velocity in male and female swimmers. J Biomech 1988; 21: 435-438
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 37 Dos Santos MAM, Junior MLB, de Castro Melo WV. et al. Estimate of propulsive force in front crawl swimming in young athletes. Open Access J Sports Med 2012; 3: 115-120
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 38 Rogowski I, Ducher G, Brosseau O. et al. Asymmetry in volume between dominant and nondominant upper limbs in young tennis players. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2008; 20: 263-272
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 39 Seifert L, Boulesteix L, Chollet D. et al. Differences in spatial-temporal parameters and arm–leg coordination in butterfly stroke as a function of race pace, skill and gender. Hum Mov Sci 2008; 27: 96-111
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 40 Havriluk R. Variability in measurement of swimming forces: a meta-analysis of passive and active drag. Res Quart Exerc Sport 2007; 78: 32-39
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 41 Sanders RH, Fairweather MM, Alcock A. et al. An approach to identifying the effect of technique asymmetries on body alignment in swimming exemplified by a case study of a breaststroke swimmer. J Sports Sci Med 2015; 14: 304-314
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 42 Boulesteix L, Seifert L, Chollet D. et al. The ratio between coordination and butterfly propulsion index for expert swimmers. In: Chatard JC, Ed. Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming IX. Saint-Etienne: University of Saint-Etienne; 2003: 99-104
    CrossrefSearch in Google Scholar
  • 43 Hellard P, Dekerle J, Avalos M. et al. Kinematic measures and stroke rate variability in elite female 200-m swimmers in the four swimming techniques: Athens 2004 Olympic semi-finalists and French National 2004 Championship semi-finalists. J Sports Sci 2008; 26: 35-46
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 44 Matsuuchi K, Miwa T, Nomura T. et al. Unsteady flow field around a human hand and propulsive force in swimming. J Biomech 2009; 42: 42-47
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 45 Gatta G, Cortesi M, Fantozzi S. et al. Planimetric frontal area in the four swimming strokes: implications for drag, energetics and speed. Hum Mov Sci 2015; 39: 41-54
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 46 Gonjo T, Olstad BH. Body wave characteristics and variability of an international and regional level swimmer in 50 m butterfly swimming. ISBS Proceedings Archive 2020; 38: 52
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 47 Morais JE, Lopes VP, Barbosa TM. et al. How does 11-week detraining affect 11-12 years old swimmers’ biomechanical determinants and its relationship with 100 m freestyle performance?. Sports Biomech. 2020 Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1080/14763141.2020.1726998
    Search in Google Scholar