title: Dry-land strength training vs. electrical stimulation in sprint swimming performance.
abstract: This study was undertaken to compare the effects of dry-land strength training vs. an electrical stimulation program on swimmers. Twenty-four national-level swimmers were randomly assigned to 3 groups: the dry-land strength training program (S), the electrical stimulation training program (ES), and the control (C) group. The training program lasted 4 weeks. The subjects were evaluated before the training, at the end of the training program, and 4 weeks later. The outcome values ascertained were peak torque during arm extension at different velocities (from -60 to 180°·s(-1)) using an isokinetic dynamometer and performance, stroke rate, and stroke length during a 50-m front crawl. A significant increase in swimming velocity and peak torque was observed for both S and ES at the end of the training and 4 weeks later. Stroke length increased in the S group but not in the ES group. However, no significant differences in swimming velocity between S and ES groups were observed. No significant changes occurred in the C group. Programs combining swimming training with dry-land strength or electrical stimulation programs led to a similar gain in sprint performance and were more efficient than swimming alone.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise-Induced Physiological Adaptations (EA 3813), University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France. s.girold@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girold
authors.forename: Chadi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jalab
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carette
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kemoun
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dugué
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D055070:Resistance Training; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult