Effect of age, anthropometry, and distance in stroke parameters of young swimmers.
This study aimed to determine the influence of age, anthropometry, and distance on stroke parameters of 10- to 17-y-old swimmers. Forty-six male swimmers were divided into 4 chronological age groups. Anthropometry and sexual maturity were assessed, and maximal efforts of 100, 200, and 400 m using front-crawl style were performed to determine stroke rate (SR), length (SL), and index (SI). Multiple linear regression, 1-way, and mixed ANOVA for repeated measures were used for statistical analyses. There was significant effect of distance for all stroke parameters (P < .001) and an age effect only for SL and SI (P < .001). Post hoc showed that the 10- to 17-year-old group significantly reduced SR with increasing distance (effect size -0.8 to -1.5 comparing 100, 200, and 400 m) but were not effective in offsetting this adaptation with increased SL, especially from 200- to 400-m distance, at which no group made both adjustments, highlighting the decreased efficiency with significant SI reduction (effect size -0.2 to -0.4 comparing 100, 200, and 400 m). Considering all stroke parameters, the performances were almost 100% explained, but SI itself could explain around 90% of the performance; furthermore, limb length contributed to explain all stroke parameter, and SI was the variable best predicted (around 75%) by anthropometrical (upper limbs and height) and descriptive variables (age and y of systematic training).Thus, distinct effects of distance and advancing age were found during childhood and adolescence on stroke parameters, and SI was highlighted as the best predictor of 100-, 200-, and 400-m maximal performances.
Postgraduate Program in Physical Education UEM/UEL, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
Paulo V
PV
Mezzaroba
Fabiana A
FA
Machado
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001827:Body Height; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013550:Swimming; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors