Abstract

Swimmers with physical impairments during competition for freestyle swimming are grouped according to their functional classification in ten classes. Stroke length, stroke rate, stroke index and clean swimming speed have been studied previously at elite level, but not at national level. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the four mentioned variables and performance time regarding functional class and gender in a sample of national level swimmers with physical impairments at the 100 m freestyle. Fourteen female (classes S4, S5, S7; S8, S9 and S10) and 29 male (classes S4, S5, S6, S7 S8, and S10) swimmers were recorded during the Winter Spanish Championship for Adapted Swimming. Classical fixed distances method was used for race analysis. Based on the results, stroke length, stroke index, clean swimming speed (and not stroke rate) values increased and turn time decreased significantly (p < 0.01) according to the functional class for both males and females from S4 up to S10; with the exception of the S5 male class, with better results (not significant, ns) than S8 in stroke index, or than S7 for clean swimming speed. Significant differences in stroke rate, stroke length and time for males between first and second lap were found, while differences were registered in stroke rate, stroke index, clean swimming speed and time for females. The presented profiling allows to frame performance for long term development of swimmers with physical impairments and also coaches can use the results to determinate the best relationship between stroke rate and stroke length for their swimmers, advice development and talent identification.

Resumen

Los nadadores con discapacidad física durante la competición de estilo libre se agrupan según su clasificación funcional en diez clases. La longitud, frecuencia e índice de brazada y la velocidad de nado se han estudiado previamente a nivel de élite, pero no a nivel nacional. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las cuatro variables mencionadas y el tiempo de prueba con respecto a la clase funcional y el género en una muestra de nadadores de nivel nacional con discapacidades físicas en la prueba de 100 m estilo libre. Catorce mujeres (clases S4, S5, S7, S8, S9 y S10) y 29 hombres (clases S4, S5, S6, S7, S8 y S10) fueron grabados durante el Campeonato de España de Invierno de Natación Adaptada. Posteriormente se utilizó el método clásico de distancias fijas clásicas para el análisis de la prueba. En base a en los resultados obtenidos, los valores de longitud e índice de brazada y de la velocidad de nado (y no de la frecuencia de brazada) aumentaron mientras que el tiempo de viraje disminuyó significativamente (p < 0,01) según la clase funcional para hombres y mujeres de S4 a S10; con la excepción de la clase masculina S5, con mejores resultados que la clase S8 en el índice de brazada, o que S7 para la velocidad de nado. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el índice, longitud de brazada y el tiempo de prueba en los hombres entre el primer y segundo segmento, mientras que se registraron diferencias en índice, longitud de brazada, velocidad y el tiempo en mujeres. El análisis presentado permite enmarcar el rendimiento de nadadores con discapacidad física en esta prueba con el fin de adecuado asesoramiento y desarrollo a largo plazo, así como la identificación de talento, por parte de los entrenadores.

https://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2018.05307

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