title: The contribution of underwater kicking efficiency in determining "turning performance" in front crawl swimming.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the effects: 1) of maximal velocity (vout max) and acceleration (aout max) attained during the turn; 2) of deceleration (-aglide) and glide efficiency (GE) in the gliding phase after the turn; and 3) of the efficiency (hF) of the dolphin kick in determining the velocity and acceleration in the first 5 and the following 10 m after a turn (v5, v5-15, a5 and a5-15) in a 100 m simulated front crawl race.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments were conducted on 13 swimmers (7M/5F) and all the above mentioned parameters were derived from underwater kinematical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 100 m times were smaller the larger v5, v5-15, a5 and a5-15. In turn, v5, v5-15, a5 and a5-15 were significantly related to vout max and aout max as well as to ηF and GE (R>0.57, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data reported in this study indicate that in the first 5-15 m after the turn, velocity is essentially sustained by the force generated by the swimmer on the pool wall but also indicate the importance of an efficient dolphin kick (and of a streamlined glide) in determining the values of velocity and acceleration in this phase of the race.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Faculty of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. paola.zamparo@univr.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zamparo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scattolini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigamonti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonifazi
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003654:Deceleration; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*