The effects of dry-land strength training on competitive sprinter swimmers

摘要

Background/objective This study aimed to examine the effects of eight weeks of dry-land strength combined with swimming training on the development of upper and lower body strength, jumping ability, and swimming performance in competitive sprinter swimmers. Methods Twenty (14 men and 6 women) university swimmers of national-level (age: 20.55?±?1.76 years, body mass: 68.86?±?7.69?kg, height: 1.77?±?0.06?m, 100?m front crawl: 71.08?±?6.71s, 50?m front crawl: 31.70?±?2.45s) were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (EG: 11) and control group (CG: 9). In addition to the usual in-water training (3–4 sessions per week of ～80?min), the EG performed 8 weeks (one session per week) of strength-training (ST). The ST included bench press, full squat, countermovement jumping, countermovement jumping with free-arm movement, and the medical ball throwing. Stroke length, stroke frequency, stroke index, and swimming velocity were recorded during 50 and 100?m front crawl time-trials. Strength and swimming performance were evaluated before and after 8 weeks of training. Results The results showed a significant improvement in sprint performance (50?m: p??0.01, d?=?0.47; 100?m: p??0.05, d?=?0.42), stroke frequency (50?m: p??0.01, d?=?0.90) and stroke index (100?m: p??0.01, d?=?0.29) in the EG. Despite both groups’ increased strength performance, increases in bench press were higher in the EG (p??0.001, d?=?0.75) than CG (p?=?0.05, d?=?0.34). Conclusions Complementing in-water training with strength training seems to be relevant to improve upper body strength and to optimize 50?m and 100?m swimming performance, adapting technical patterns used during all-out swimming.