TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationships Between Propulsion and Anthropometry in Paralympic Swimmers
AU - Dingley, Andrew
AU - Pyne, David
AU - Burkett, Brendan
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Purpose: To characterize relationships between propulsion, anthropometry, and performance in Paralympic swimming. Methods:
A cross-sectional study of swimmers (13 male, 15 female) age 20.5 ± 4.4 y was conducted. Subject locomotor categorizations
were no physical disability (n = 8, classes S13–S14) and low-severity (n = 11, classes S9–S10) or midseverity disability (n =
9, classes S6–S8). Full anthropometric profiles estimated muscle mass and body fat, a bilateral swim-bench ergometer quantified
upper-body power production, and 100-m time trials quantified swimming performance. Results: Correlations between
ergometer mean power and swimming performance increased with degree of physical disability (low-severity male r = .65,
±0.56, and female r = .68, ±0.64; midseverity, r = .87, ±0.41, and r = .79, ±0.75). The female midseverity group showed nearperfect
(positive) relationships for taller swimmers’ (with a greater muscle mass and longer arm span) swimming faster, while
for female no- and low-severity-disability groups, greater muscle mass was associated with slower velocity (r = .78, ±0.43, and
r = .65, ±0.66). This was supported with lighter females (with less frontal surface area) in the low-severity group being faster (r
= .94, ±0.24). In a gender contrast, low-severity males with less muscle mass (r = –.64, ±0.56), high skinfolds (r = .78, ±0.43),
a longer arm span (r = .58, ±0.60) or smaller frontal surface area (r = –.93, ±0.19) were detrimental to swimming-velocity
production. Conclusion: Low-severity male and midseverity female Paralympic swimmers should be encouraged to develop
muscle mass and upper-body power to enhance swimming performance. The generalized anthropometric measures appear to
be a secondary consideration for coaches
AB - Purpose: To characterize relationships between propulsion, anthropometry, and performance in Paralympic swimming. Methods:
A cross-sectional study of swimmers (13 male, 15 female) age 20.5 ± 4.4 y was conducted. Subject locomotor categorizations
were no physical disability (n = 8, classes S13–S14) and low-severity (n = 11, classes S9–S10) or midseverity disability (n =
9, classes S6–S8). Full anthropometric profiles estimated muscle mass and body fat, a bilateral swim-bench ergometer quantified
upper-body power production, and 100-m time trials quantified swimming performance. Results: Correlations between
ergometer mean power and swimming performance increased with degree of physical disability (low-severity male r = .65,
±0.56, and female r = .68, ±0.64; midseverity, r = .87, ±0.41, and r = .79, ±0.75). The female midseverity group showed nearperfect
(positive) relationships for taller swimmers’ (with a greater muscle mass and longer arm span) swimming faster, while
for female no- and low-severity-disability groups, greater muscle mass was associated with slower velocity (r = .78, ±0.43, and
r = .65, ±0.66). This was supported with lighter females (with less frontal surface area) in the low-severity group being faster (r
= .94, ±0.24). In a gender contrast, low-severity males with less muscle mass (r = –.64, ±0.56), high skinfolds (r = .78, ±0.43),
a longer arm span (r = .58, ±0.60) or smaller frontal surface area (r = –.93, ±0.19) were detrimental to swimming-velocity
production. Conclusion: Low-severity male and midseverity female Paralympic swimmers should be encouraged to develop
muscle mass and upper-body power to enhance swimming performance. The generalized anthropometric measures appear to
be a secondary consideration for coaches
KW - Hand power
KW - Swim-bench ergometer
KW - Swimming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946826875&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/relationships-between-propulsion-anthropometry-paralympic-swimmers
U2 - 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0186
DO - 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0186
M3 - Article
SN - 1555-0265
VL - 10
SP - 978
EP - 985
JO - International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
JF - International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
IS - 8
ER -