Effect of hand paddles and parachute on backstroke coordination and stroke parameters.

Hand paddles and parachutes have been used in order to overload swimmers, and consequently increase the propulsive force generation in swimming. However, their use may affect not only kinematical parameters (average speed, stroke length and stroke rate), but also time gaps between propulsive phases, assessed through the index of coordination (IdC). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of hand paddles and parachute use, isolated or combined, on kinematical parameters and coordination. Eleven swimmers (backstroke 50-m time: 29.16 ± 1.43 s) performed four 15-m trials in a randomised order at maximal intensity: (1) without implements (FREE), (2) with hand paddles (HPD), (3) with parachute (PCH) and (4) with hand paddles plus parachute (HPD+PCH). All trials were video-recorded (60 Hz) in order to assess average speed, stroke rate, stroke length, five stroke phases and index of coordination. When average swimming speed was compared to FREE, it was lower in PCH and HPD+PCH, and higher in HPD. Stroke rate decreased in all overloaded trials compared to FREE. The use of hand paddles and parachute increased and decreased stroke length, respectively. In addition, propulsive phase duration was increased when hand paddles were used, and time gaps shifted towards zero (no time gap), especially when hand paddles were combined with parachute. It is conceivable that the combined use of hand paddles and parachute, once allowing overloading both propulsive and resistive forces, provides a specific stimulus to improve muscle strength and propulsive continuity.

Anthropometric parameters of cadets among different military sports / Parámetros antropométricos de cadetes entre los diferentes deportes militares

This study compared anthropometric parameters among different military sports. One hundred and seventy male cadets of the Brazilian Air Force Academy, who were participants of athletics (n= 33, 20.5±1.3 years), basketball (n= 11, 19.9±1.8 years), fencing (n= 10, 19.9±0.7 years), soccer (n= 21, 20.9±1.6 years), judo (n= 17, 20.7±1.0 years), swimming (n= 15, 20.4±1.2 years), orienteering (n= 10, 21.3±1.6 years), military pentathlon (n= 11, 20.7±1.2 years), water polo (n=10, 21.1±0.9 years), shooting (n= 18, 21.3±1.2 years) or volleyball (n= 14, 20.9±1.7 years) military competitive teams, participated in this study. Height, body mass, body mass index, fat percentage, lean body mass, fat mass, waist and hip perimeters, and waist-hip ratio were measured. Main effects were detected for height, body mass, body mass index, lean body mass, waist and hip perimeters. The only significant finding was that orienteers present lower lean body mass than volleyball and water polo players. These results point out the homogeneity of group anthropometric parameters (except lean body mass), suggesting that military coaches do not rely on the anthropometric parameters, but on specific skills demonstrated during initial period of practice to choose athletes for their teams.

Este estudio comparó los parámetros antropométricos entre cadetes que practican diferentes deportes militares. Ciento setenta cadetes hombres de la Academia de la Fuerza Aérea, que eran participantes de equipos militares competitivos de atletismo (n= 33, 20,5±1,3 años), baloncesto (n= 11, 19,9±1,8 años), esgrima (n= 10, 19,9±0,7 años), fútbol (n=21, 20,9±1,6 años), judo (n= 17, 20,7±1,0 años), natación (n= 15, 20,4±1,2 años), orientación (n= 10, 21,3±1,6 años), pentatlón militar (n= 11, 20,7±1,2 años), polo acuático (n= 10, 21,1±0,9 años), tiro (n= 18, 21,3±1,2 años) y voleibol (n= 14, 20,9±1,7 años) participaron en este estudio. Se midió la altura, masa corporal, índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de grasa corporal, masa magra, masa grasa, perímetros de cintura y cadera, y la relación cintura-cadera. No se detectaron variaciones de altura, masa corporal, índice de masa corporal, masa magra corporal, perímetro de cintura y cadera. El único hallazgo significativo fue que los orientadores tenían una masa corporal magra más baja que los jugadores de voléibol y polo acuático. Estos resultados apuntan a la homogeneidad de los parámetros antropométricos en grupos (excepto la masa magra), lo que sugiere que los instructores militares no dependen de los parámetros antropométricos, sino de las habilidades específicas demostradas durante el período de la práctica inicial en la selección de los atletas para sus equipos.

Effect of hand paddles and parachute on butterfly coordination.

This study investigated the effects of hand paddles, parachute and hand paddles plus parachute on the inter-limb coordination of butterfly swimming. Thirteen male swimmers were evaluated in four random maximal intensity conditions: without equipment, with hand paddles, with parachute and with hand paddles + parachute. Arm and leg stroke phases were identified by 2D video analysis to calculate the total time gap (T1: time between hands' entry in the water and high break-even point of the first undulation; T2: time between the beginning of the hand's backward movement and low break-even point of the first undulation; T3: time between the hand's arrival in a vertical plane to the shoulders and high break-even point of the second undulation; T4: time between the hand's release from the water and low break-even point of the second undulation). The swimming velocity was reduced and T1, T2 and T3 increased in parachute and hand paddles + parachute. No changes were observed in T4. Total time gap decreased in parachute and hand paddles + parachute. It is concluded that hand paddles do not influence the arm-to-leg coordination in butterfly, while parachute and hand paddles + parachute do change it, providing a greater propulsive continuity.