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Int J Sports Med 2004; 25(7): 486-495
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820943
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evaluation of Arm-Leg Coordination in Flat Breaststroke

D. Chollet1 , L. Seifert1 , H. Leblanc1 , L. Boulesteix1 , M. Carter1
  • 1C.E.T.A.P.S. Laboratory UPRES JE 2318: University of Rouen, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Rouen, France
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Publication History

Accepted after revision: October 4, 2003

Publication Date:
24 May 2004 (online)

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Abstract

This study proposes a new method to evaluate arm-leg coordination in flat breaststroke. Five arm and leg stroke phases were defined with a velocity-video system. Five time gaps quantified the time between arm and leg actions during three paces of a race (200 m, 100 m and 50 m) in 16 top level swimmers. Based on these time gaps, effective glide, effective propulsion, effective leg insweep and effective recovery were used to identify the different stroke phases of the body.

A faster pace corresponded to increased stroke rate, decreased stroke length, increased propulsive phases, shorter glide phases, and a shorter T1 time gap, which measured the effective body glide. The top level swimmers showed short time gaps (T2, T3, T4, measuring the timing of arm-leg recoveries), which reflected the continuity in arm and leg actions. The measurement of these time gaps thus provides a pertinent evaluation of swimmers' skill in adapting their arm-leg coordination to biomechanical constraints.

Key words

Biomechanics - swimming - motor control - exercise - performance

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M. Didier Chollet
L Seifert

University of Rouen, Faculty of Sports Sciences, CETAPS Laboratory

Bld Siegfried

76821 Mont Saint Aignan Cedex

France

Phone: + 33232107793

Fax: + 33 2 32 10 77 93

Email: didier.chollet@univ-rouen.fr

Email: l.seifert@libertysurf.fr