Kinematical and Muscular Fatigue in Swimmers

NCT ID: NCT06069440

Last Updated: 2023-10-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 23 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-02-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-08-01

Brief Summary

During a submaximal task, gradual muscle fatigue occurs, which inevitably results in a decline in performance (mechanical failure). Elite athletes are known to employ unconscious compensatory strategies during fatiguing submaximal tasks in an attempt to delay the onset of mechanical failure as long as possible.

The purpose of this study was to gain valuable insight into the strategies used by elite swimmers to cope with mechanical failure. Twenty-two swimmers were subjected to a swim test consisting of swimming as long as possible at a predetermined and controlled pace. A light strip positioned at the bottom of the pool allows athletes to get feedback on which gait to keep. The kinematics (stroke rate, stroke length, and efficiency index) and electrical activity of 10 muscle groups were analyzed and compared at the beginning of the test (non-fatiguing conditions), just before the athlete lost the ability to maintain the predetermined pace (pre-mechanical failure), and after the athlete lost the ability to maintain the pace (mechanical failure). It is hypothesized that as fatigue becomes more pronounced and the point of inability to maintain a predetermined speed is approached, increased EMG activity will occur in key muscles while other muscle groups may show more obvious signs of fatigue. In addition, changes in the rhythm and coordination of upper limb movements may occur.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

swimmers

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Swimming Fatigue Task

Intervention Type: OTHER

Swim freestyle at a steady, controlled pace until mechanical failure (i.e., inability to maintain the predetermined speed) is reached.

Interventions

Swimming Fatigue Task

Swim freestyle at a steady, controlled pace until mechanical failure (i.e., inability to maintain the predetermined speed) is reached.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Middle- or long-distance swimmer specializing in front crawl

2. At least 3 years of experience in international competition

3. Daily use of flashing light for pace control in aerobic, anaerobic threshold and maximum oxygen consumption training.

Exclusion Criteria

1) Presence of muscle pain or soreness that could prevent the athlete from performing at their best

• Minimum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 24 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Universita degli Studi di Genova

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Luca Puce

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Università degli Studi di Genova

Genova, , Italy

Countries

Italy

References

Puce L, Biz C, Ruaro A, Mori F, Bellofiore A, Nicoletti P, Bragazzi NL, Ruggieri P. Analysis of Kinematic and Muscular Fatigue in Long-Distance Swimmers. Life (Basel). 2023 Oct 27;13(11):2129. doi: 10.3390/life13112129.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 38004269 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

DINOGMI-2023

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id