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The Backstroke Swimming Start: State of the Art

100%

de Jesus K., de Jesus K., Fernandes R. J., Vilas-Boas J. P., Sanders R.

Journal of Human Kinetics

2014

vol. 42

issue 1

27-40

As sprint swimming events can be decided by margins as small as .01 s, thus, an effective start is essential. This study reviews and discusses the ‘state of the art’ literature regarding backstroke start biomechanics from 23 documents. These included two swimming specific publications, eight peer-reviewed journal articles, three from the Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming Congress series, eight from the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports Conference Proceedings, one from a Biomechanics Congress and one academic (PhD) thesis. The studies had diverse aims, including swimmers’ proficiency levels and data collection settings. There was no single consensus for defining phase descriptions; and kinematics, kinetics and EMG approaches were implemented in laboratory settings. However, researchers face great challenges in improving methods of quantifying valid, reliable and accurate data between laboratory and competition conditions. For example, starting time was defined from the starting signal to distances as disparate as ~5 m to 22.86 m in several studies. Due to recent rule changes, some of the research outcomes now refer to obsolete backstroke start techniques, and only a few studies considered the actual international rules. This literature review indicated that further research is required, in both laboratory and competition settings focusing on the combined influences of the current rules and block configuration on backstroke starting performances

Integrated Dynamometric, Kinematic And Electromyographic Characterisation Of A Swimming Track Start Block Phase – A Pilot Study

73%

Vitor M., de Jesus K., Mourão L., Tribuzi S., Gonçalves P., Marques M., Roesler H., Vaz M., Vilas-Boas J. P., Fernandes R. J.

Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

2016

vol. 15

issue 3

5-14

This study presents a complete biomechanical analysis of the block phase of a swimming modified track start. Kinetic, kinematic and electromyography (EMG) data were collected. The forces produced by the swimmer on the block, the EMG of eight muscles and the kinematics of the centre of mass (CM) were recorded. A national-level swimmer performed three repetitions of a track start in a dynamometric starting block. Temporal instants ‘reaction time’, ‘hands take-off’, ‘rear foot take-off’ and ‘front foot take-off’ were identified. Results show the peak forces (Fmax) produced by the most dynamic limb in each sub-phase delimited by mentioned instants (right hand take-off: Fmaxvertical = 103 N; rear foot take-off: Fmaxantero-posterior = 524 N; front foot take-off: Fmaxvertical = 634 N). The CM revealed a descendent vertical trajectory along the block phase. Mean resultant speed at front foot take-off was 4.092m/s. The muscles with highest values of integral EMG (iEMG) were the tibialis anterior during hands take-off, Biceps Femoris and Gluteus Maximus during rear foot take-off, respectively 41.17%, 52.96% and 36.37% of the maximum isometric voluntary contraction (%MIVC). The study demonstrates an effective characterisation of the block phase in swimming starts with potential to evaluate the swimmers performance in the track start, using different back plate positioning.

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1 Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

1 Journal of Human Kinetics

1 2016

1 2014

2 Fernandes R. J.

2 Vilas-Boas J. P.

2 de Jesus K.

1 Gonçalves P.

1 Marques M.

1 Mourão L.

1 Roesler H.

1 Sanders R.

1 Tribuzi S.

1 Vaz M.

1 Vitor M.

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The Backstroke Swimming Start: State of the Art

Integrated Dynamometric, Kinematic And Electromyographic Characterisation Of A Swimming Track Start Block Phase – A Pilot Study