title: Swimming Stroke Mechanical Efficiency and Physiological Responses of 100-m Backstroke with and without the use of paddles.
abstract: The use of swimming aids during training contributes to greater swimming efficiency by the improvement of the swimming specific power of the athlete. The purpose of this study was to compare the swimming stroke technical characteristics and the physiological responses of swimming 100-m backstroke, with and without the use of paddles at maximum and sub-maximum intensities at the same swimming speed. Eight swimmers competing at the national level participated in this study. The measurements took place at 4 different sessions. At every session, each participant swam individually one 100-m backstroke swimming trial with or without paddles at the same speed and two levels of intensity (100% and 85% of maximum speed). The results revealed lower stroke length, greater stroke number and gliding length without the use of swimming paddles at both intensities. Blood lactate concentration (10.03±2.96 vs. 5.85±2.23 mmol/l) and Rating of Perceived Exertion (17.43±2.07 vs. 12±2.82) were greater without the use of swimming paddles only at 100% of maximum speed. Thus, swimming backstroke with paddles compared to unaided swimming, at a similar speed, showed a greater efficiency at maximal but not at sub-maximal intensity.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sports, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spilios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messinis
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sports, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beidaris
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sports, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messinis
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sports, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soultanakis
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sports, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Botonis
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sports, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Platanou
keywords: blood lactate; gliding length; stroke length; stroke number; swimming; training aids