Wave Characteristics in Breaststroke Technique with and Without Snorkel Use

• Authors: Ana Conceição , António J. Silva , José Boaventura , Daniel A. Marinho , Hugo Louro
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The purpose of this paper was to examine the characteristics of waves generated when swimming with and without the use of Aquatrainer® snorkels. Eight male swimmers performed two maximal bouts of 25 m breaststroke, first without the use of a snorkel (normal condition) and then using a snorkel (snorkel condition). The body landmarks, centre of the mass velocity, stroke rate, stroke length, stroke index, and Strouhal number (St) were quantified. Fourier analysis was conducted to determine the frequency, amplitude, and phase characteristics of the vertical undulations. We also determined the undulation period, the first and second harmonic wave percentage, and the contribution of these components to the power of each of the wave signals. The first wave harmonics had a frequency of 0.76 Hz (normal condition) and 0.78 Hz (snorkel condition), and the second wave harmonics had a frequency of 1.52 Hz (normal condition) and 1.56 Hz (snorkel condition). Under the normal conditions, the wave amplitude was higher on the vertex (0.72 m) and cervical (0.32 m) than that produced under snorkel conditions (0.71 m and 0.28 m, respectively). The lowest values were found in the hip (0.03 m in normal conditions, and 0.02 m in snorkel conditions) and in the trunk (0.06 m in normal conditions, and 0.04 m in snorkel conditions). It can be concluded that snorkel use seems to lead to slight changes in the biomechanical pattern in swimming velocity, as well as several stroke mechanical variables.

Keywords

EN

competitive swimming; stroke rate; stroke length; swimming snorkel; wave motion; Fourier analysis

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Journal of Human Kinetics
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 185-194

Dates

published

1 - 12 - 2013

online

31 - 12 - 2013

Contributors

author

Ana Conceição

• Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal.
• Research Center in Sports Science, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.

author

António J. Silva

• University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
• Research Center in Sports Science, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.

author

José Boaventura

• INESC TEC - INESC Technology and Science (formerly INESC Porto) and ECT - School of Science and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal.

author

Daniel A. Marinho

• University of Beira-Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
• Research Center in Sports Science, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.

author

Hugo Louro

• Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal.
• Research Center in Sports Science, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.

References

• Abdel-Aziz YI, Karara HM. Direct linear transformation from comparator coordinates into object space coordinates in close-range photogrammetry. In: Symposium on Close-Range Photogrammetry, Falls Church: American Society of Photogrammetry, 1-18; 1971
• Alexander RM, Jayes AS. Fourier analysis of forces exerted in walking and running. J Biomech, 1980; 13: 383-90[Crossref][PubMed]
• Barbosa TM, Keskinen KL, Fernandes RJ, Colaço P, Lima AB, Vilas-Boas JP. Energy cost and intracyclic variation of the velocity of the centre of mass in butterfly stroke. Eur J Appl Physiol, 2005; 93: 519-523[PubMed][Crossref]
• Costill D, Kovaleski J, Porter D, Fielding R, King D. Energy expenditure during front crawl swimming: predicting success in middle-distance events. Int J Sports Med, 1985; 6: 266-270.[Crossref][PubMed]
• De Leva P. Adjustments to Zatsiorsky-Seluyanov’s segment inertia parameters. J Biomech, 1996; 29: 1223-1230[Crossref]
• Elliot DF, Rao KR. Fast Transforms: Algorithms, Analyses and Applications. Academic Press; 1982
• Fish FE, Rohr JJ. Review of dolphin hydrodynamics and swimming performance. Technical Report 1801. San Diego, CA: US Navy; 1999
• Hirata RP, Duarte M. Effect of relative knee position on internal mechanical loading during squatting. Braz JPhysical Therapy, 2007; 11: 107-111
• Hochtsein S, Blickhan R. Human Undulatory Swimming: Kinematics, Flow and Mechanical Model. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming XI. Eds: Kjendlie P-L, Stallman TK and Cabri J, Oslo: NorwegianSchool of Sport Sciences, 74; 2010
• Kelso JA, Holt KG, Flatt AE. The role of proprioception in the perception and control of human movement: toward a theoretical reassessment. Percept Psychophys, 1980; 28: 45-52[Crossref][PubMed]
• Kelso JA, Holt KG, Rubin P, Kugler PN. Patterns of human interlimb coordination emerge from the properties of non-linear, limit cycle oscillatory processes: theory and data. J Mot Behav, 1981; 13: 226-61
• Kjendlie PL, Stallman R, Stray-Gundersen J. Influences of breathing valve on swimming technique. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming IX. Eds: Chatard JC, France: University of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, 69-73; 2003
• Rodríguez FA, Keskinen KL, Kusch M, HoVmann U. Validity of a swimming snorkel for metabolic testing. Int J Sports Med, 2008; 29:120-128[PubMed][Crossref][WoS]
• Sanders R, Cappaert JM, Devlin RK. Wave characteristics of butterfly swimming. J Biomech, 1995; 28: 9-16[PubMed][Crossref]
• Sanders R, Cappaert JM, Pease DL. Wave characteristics of Olympic breaststroke Swimmers. J Appl Biomech, 1998; 14: 40-51
• Thornton KM. Learning from the Olympians: Butterfly stroke rhythm. Swimming World, 28-30; 1984
• Toussaint H, Meulemans A, De Groot G, Hollander AP, Schreurs A, Vervoon K. Respiratory valve for oxygen uptake measurement during swimming. Eur J Appl Physiol, 1987; 56: 363-366[Crossref]
• Triantafyllou GS, Triantafyllou MS. An efficient swimming machine. Scientific American, 1995; 64-70
• Ungerechts BE. A comparison of the movements of the rear parts of dolphins and butterfly swimmers. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, Eds: Hollander AP, Champaign. Human Kinetics, 1982; 215-221
• Ungerechts BE, Daly D, Zhu JP. What dolphins tell us about hydrodynamics. J Swim Res, 1998; 13: 1-7
• Videler J, Kamermans P. Differences between upstroke and downstroke in swimming dolphins. J Exp Biol, 1985; 119: 265-274[PubMed]
• Vilas-Boas JP, Cunha P, Figueiras T, Ferreira M, Duarte J. Movement analysis in simultaneously swimming technique. In: ölner Schwimmsporttage. Symposiumsbericht Sport Fahneman Verlag. Bockenem, Eds: Daniel K, Hoffman U, Klauck J, Germany, 95-103; 1997
• Wilson DJ, Smith BK, Gibson JK. Accuracy of reconstructed angular estimates obtained with the Ariel Performance Analysis System. American Physical Therapy Association, 1997; 77: 1741-6

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/hukin-2013-0081