A "velocity-video" system was developed with the intent of measuring forward body velocity changes and technical skill during swimming. The system consists of a "swim-meter", video camera, A-D converter, Apple IIE computer, Microkey system, VCR and monitor. A correlation of 1.0 was found between the velocity computed by the "velocity-video" system and a known speed. Furthermore, comparison of the velocity pattern of breaststroke from video with digitized film revealed a correlation of 0.95. These results suggest that the "velocity-video" system is a valid method of describing swimming velocity and corresponding changes in body position. The second part of this investigation examined the relationship between physiological economy (ml 02-U_1-LBW-7L), technical skill, swim power, and performance between "superior" and "good" male and female breaststrokers. Swimmers were categorized based on best 100 yd performance time. To study physiological economy oxygen uptake was determined after a 400 yd submaximal breaststroke swim. No significant difference in economy (ml 02•m-1 -LBW-1) was noted between the superior and good swimmers for both males and females. The superior male swimmers, however, were found to have lower blood lactate values compared to the good male breaststrokers', 1.85 + 0.39 vs. 4.49 ± 0.86 mM•1-1. The superior males and females were found cover a greater distance per stroke compared to the good males and females, respectively. The ability to generate power and/or peak power was found to be an important factor in sprint performance (r = 0.91 and 0.92, respectively). During a submaximal effort the superior swimmers spent a greater amount of time during the glide and leg recovery phases of the breaststroke cycle than the good swimmers. The results of the present study suggest that the superior breaststrokers were characterized by there ability to minimize drag during the glide and leg recovery phases of the stroke cycle. This suggests greater technical skill as evidenced by the superior swimmers' ability to cover a greater distance per stroke cycle at a given speed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/183481 |
| Date | January 1987 |
| Creators | D'Acquisto, Leonardo J. |
| Contributors | Costill, David L. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | ix, 99 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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