Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Competition”
1. Please introduce yourself to the readers (how you started in the profession, education, credentials, experience, etc.). My name is Kristen Cochrane and I received a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Sciences from the University of California, Irvine in 2008 and a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton in 2012. I am a member of the American College of …
Background on the Barbell Deadlift Dryland Training has become a quintessential aspect of swimming. Not only does dryland provide the opportunity for athletes to become stronger but it also provides an avenue for the body to create improved physiological adaptations resulting in more functional strength and faster times in the water. The barbell deadlift is an exercise that requires …
Blood flow resistance training has been suggested to improve muscle strength and size at lower loads due to similar hormonal releases compared to resistance training. This acute hypoxia has stemmed research on systemic hypoxia. Training in systemic hypoxic conditions is also suggested to improve growth hormone (GH) release. However, the effects of systemic hypoxic conditions have yet to be determined. …
The position of the fingers and toes is seldom discussed on pool decks. Literature suggests a slight spread of the fingers maximizes propulsion. Moreover, the amount of spread is proportional to the speed of the moving object. However, there is a debate if a larger paddle exerts more force on the surrounding water, leading to less efficient swimming. This study …
Music is utilized in many sports for motivation. In swimming, underwater music players have increased in commonality and popularity. Studies have found positive correlations between music and improvements on sub-maximal aerobic performance. However, conflicting results exist in music and supra-maximal exercise. Even if beneficial, listening to music is not allowed in competition. However, using music during recovery is allowed and …
Much debate surrounds the ‘ideal’ catch in freestyle. Many suggest a high-elbow catch theoretically maximizing propulsion (‘drag-based’), while others believe in a low-elbow or ‘S-curve’ catch to maximize mythical lift (‘lift-based). Unfortunately, the lift has only been theoretically determined in swimming, subjecting it to much scrutiny in the sport. In the current study, the researchers used computational fluid dynamic modeling …
In part I, I covered the exciting topic of breathing biomechanics and muscles associated with inspiration. These are the muscles noted with fatigue in swimming. Even though the last batch was the popular group to study, it is essential to know the other muscles involved in breathing and how to improve both forms of breathing. Now it is time to get …
No matter the distance, every swimmer is out of breath at the end of a race….excuse me if I just blew your mind! This obvious statement has lead swim coaches to attempt various training means to prevent “being out of breath” as the main limiting factor in swimming. The most common attempt was increasing swimming volume, while others implemented underwater …
Dr. John and I share a keen interest in baseball statistics, a field that has hit mainstream culture with the popularity of Moneyball as a book and now a motion picture. Although I’m embarrassed to admit I have not seen Moneyball on the big screen (but I did see The Muppets on Thanksgiving!), most of the people who did see …
The respiratory system is not typically associated with the limiting factor in maximal exercise, and the influence of inspiratory (breathing inward) muscle fatigue during maximal exercise is unclear. Studies suggest a long and short duration high-intensity exercise causes inspiratory muscle fatigue leading to impaired performance. Breathing during swimming is especially important since breathing frequency is limited. The constraints of swimming …