Abstract
The effectiveness of human movement is the culmination of several musculoskeletal
factors; asymmetry in movement could reduce optimal performance. The aims of this
study were to quantify relationships between bilateral hand-force production, swimming
performance, and the influence of fatigue. Paralympic swimmers (n=21, aged 20.9 ±
4.7 yr) were categorised into no, high- and low-range physical disability groups and
performed two 100 m time trials to measure swimming performance. Bilateral hand-force
was measured over two 60 s maximal tests on a swim-bench ergometer to quantify the
degree of asymmetry. Large relationships between mean force and swimming velocity
were seen for both the high- (r=0.62, ±0.45; r-value, ±90% confidence limits) and
low-range (r=0.62, ±0.50) groups. Asymmetry was related to level of disability, with
the smallest difference of 6.7, ±2.6 N in the no-musculoskeletal disability group.
This difference increased to 13.1, ±10.0 N and 13.5, ±16.2 N in the high- and low-range
groups. Between the first and last 15 s of the swim-bench test, reductions in mean
force were small for the physical disabilities groups. Similarly, changes in asymmetry
were small for both the no-physical and low-range groups. Paralympic swimmers with
a more severe physical impairment typically generate substantially lower force and
velocity.
Key words
asymmetry - force - swim-bench ergometer
