Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming XI

BiomechanicsandmedicineinswimmingXi
the completion of the entry phase (Figure 5). While these adjustments
are primarily designed to avoid shoulder injury and increase average
hand force, stroke rate will also increase. Once the entry is complete,
elbow flexion can immediately begin.
The lack of significant increase in force for two of the key events
can be explained. The angle at the elbow was already 90° when the hands
became medial to the elbows, so no force increase due to mechanical
Biomechanics advantage and could Medicine be expected. in Swimming When XI the hands passed perpendicularly
Chapter below 5 Education, the shoulders, Advice any and potential Biofeedback increase in mechanical advantage is
tempered by a slowdown in hand speed due to the change in musculature
from pulling to pushing (Richardson, 1986).
Figure 5. Butterfly arm entry that minimizes shoulder stress and maximizes mechanical
advantage. Figure 5. Butterfly arm entry that minimizes shoulder stress and maximizes
mechanical advantage.
Logistics often make it difficult for a coach to collect quantitative data on technique
during Logistics a training often session. make it Qualitative difficult for observations a coach to to collect determine quantitative when the data hands
submerge below the level of the shoulders and when elbow flexion begins, however, are
entirely on technique possible. Tracking during a these training two events session. is Qualitative critical to minimize observations the time to de- that the
arms termine are in a position when the likely hands to stress submerge the shoulders below the and level maximize of the the shoulders time that and the arms
are in when a mechanically elbow flexion advantageous begins, however, position are for force entirely generation. possible. Tracking these
two events is critical to minimize the time that the arms are in a position
CONCLUSION
Based likely on the to quantitative stress the shoulders results, coaches and maximize can qualitatively the time evaluate that the swimmers arms are to in ensure
they a eliminate mechanically the wasted advantageous time that their position hands for are force above generation. the shoulders at the beginning
of the butterfly pull by adjusting the entry angle. A downward entry angle will result in
a stronger conclusIon
arm position, a faster stroke rate, and less shoulder stress. Coaches can also
encourage swimmers to begin elbow flexion as soon as the entry is complete. In
addition Based to improving on the quantitative performance, results, these coaches technique can adjustments qualitatively will evaluate be helpful in
reducing swimmers the onset to of ensure shoulder they injury. eliminate the wasted time that their hands are
above the shoulders at the beginning of the butterfly pull by adjusting
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