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Bobbing up and down on a kickboard while pushing through a 1,000-yard kick set is common on most swim teams. Unfortunately, the kickboard provides a base of stability for the arms and core which is not present during swimming. Moreover, a board allows an athlete to use a pivot to propel themselves forward via the spiral line described by Thomas …
There are several considerations for optimizing swimming feedback: Timing – How soon after the task do you offer feedback? Frequency – How often do you provide feedback? After every length (novice swim lessons) or between sets with advanced swimmers? Extrinsic vs. intrinsic feedback – Examples of extrinsic feedback include verbal cues or watching a video. Generally, extrinsic feedback is associated with skill acquisition. …
We’ve discussed low back instability in swimmers before, but the flaws and ecclesiastic teachings surrounding stretching and mobility are immense. First of all, let’s break down some terminology. Stretching is a mode to improve mobility. Mobility and flexibility are closer in terminology but slightly different. By definition: Flexibility is the property of being flexible; easily bent or shaped. Mobility is …
Read a swimmer’s guide to Pain: Part II when you’re done 🙂 I have a vertebra out of place My back is out of alignment My knees are bone-on-bone so I can’t do breaststroke All of the above are common ways to describe typical injuries around the pool. And while there are often grains of truth in such statements, a …
Part I: Should Females Train Differently Than Males in Swimming Swimming is a unique sport in which female performances can approach and even exceed the men with regularity. Even compared to running (another sport with high female participation), gender performances in swimming are more closely aligned, particularly as event duration increases (Tanaka 1997). In swimming, males and females with similar fitness often train …
Inflammation is the first stage of any musculoskeletal injury. This process involves infiltration of many inflammatory signaling cells (cytokines). If irritation continues, then inflammation will not subside. Therefore, it is essential to improve inflammation as soon as possible. Once inflammation resolves, assessing muscle length, strength, and timing is essential. In some cases, inflammation surrounds the joint, in other cases, the …
A swim race is broken down into a start, turn, and free swimming phases. Although shorter, the start and turn are vital aspects of the race, especially races of shorter distances. Practicing the start and turn can improve ~0.1 seconds per phase, a large sum in longer races. The easiest method for measuring start and turn performance is to measure speed and …
In the first installment of a swimmer’s guide to pain, we discussed basic concepts of pain for swimmers. That piece addressed the neurological basis for pain, suggesting that much of how we feel pain relates to how the nervous system perceives an external threat.”Perception is key, not merely structural damage, as many studies have shown that pain-free subjects can have structural …
One of the biggest upsets at the 2017 Men’s NCAA Swimming Championships was Caeleb Dressel defeating Joseph Schooling in the 100-yard butterfly. Not only was the win an upset, but his time was astonishing and his race plan is out-of-this-world. Dressel, America’s most dominant yards sprinter, did not beat the defending Olympic Gold Medalist with his blistering early speed. He …