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- Title
Muscle Activation in World-Champion, World-Class, and National Breaststroke Swimmers.
- Authors
Olstad, Bjørn Harald; Zinner, Christoph; Vaz, João Rocha; Cabri, Jan M. H.; Kjendlie, Per-Ludvik
- Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the muscle-activation patterns and coactivation with the support of kinematics in some of the world's best breaststrokers and identify performance discriminants related to national elites at maximal effort. Methods: Surface electromyography was collected in 8 muscles from 4 world-class (including 2 world champions) and 4 national elite breaststroke swimmers during a 25-m breaststroke at maximal effort. Results: World-class spent less time during the leg recovery (P = .043), began this phase with a smaller knee angle (154.6° vs 161.8°), and had a higher median velocity of 0.18 m/s during the leg glide than national elites. Compared with national elites, world-class swimmers showed a difference in the muscle-activation patterns for all 8 muscles. In the leg-propulsion phase, there was less triceps brachii activation (1 swimmer 6% vs median 23.0% [8.8]). In the leg-glide phase, there was activation in rectus femoris and gastrocnemius during the beginning of this phase (all world-class vs only 1 national elite) and a longer activation in pectoralis major (world champions 71% [0.5] vs 50.0 [4.3]) (propulsive phase of the arms). In the leg-recovery phase, there was more activation in biceps femoris (50.0% [15.0] vs 20.0% [14.0]) and a later and quicker activation in tibialis anterior (40.0% [7.8] vs 52.0% [6.0]). In the stroke cycle, there was no coactivation in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius for world champions. Conclusion: These components are important performance discriminants. They can be used to improve muscle-activation patterns and kinematics through the different breaststroke phases. Furthermore, they can be used as focus points for teaching breaststroke to beginners.
- Subjects
SKELETAL muscle physiology; ATHLETIC ability; COMPARATIVE studies; ELECTROMYOGRAPHY; KINEMATICS; PROBABILITY theory; SWIMMING; BODY movement; ELITE athletes; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance, 2017, Vol 12, Issue 4, p538
- ISSN
1555-0265
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1123/ijspp.2015-0703