Effects of Specific Muscle Strength Development on the Crawl Swimming Technique of Physical Education Students
Abstract
The goal of the study was to verify the effect of three types of exercise training programs on the front crawl technique in non-professional swimmers. Participants, divided into three exercise groups: dry-water group (n=3), water group (n=3), dry group (n=3), attended supervised exercise sessions twice a week for three months.
Dry-water group improved stroke length in 25 m test by 2+-0.1% and in 50 m test by 6+-0.18%, stroke frequency in 25 m test by 3+-8.0%, speed in 50 m test by 5+-8.7%, strength of the upper limbs in 10 strokes test by 21+-0.57%, and 50 strokes test by 16+-0.12%. Water group improved speed in 25 m test by 7+-0.9% and in 50 m test by 12+-2.0%, strength of the upper limbs in 10 strokes test by 10+-0.04% and in 50 strokes test by 18+-0.05%.
Dry group improved the strength of the upper limbs in 10 strokes test by 21+-0.58% and in 50 strokes test by 31+-0.29%. We suggest that a combination of dry-land and water exercise leads to development of crawl technique and upper limbs strength; dry-land exercise leads to the development of upper limb strength but deteriorates technical parameters in front crawl, and water exercise leads to an improvement in overall speed but deterioration of technical parameters in front crawl in non-professional swimmers.