What Is the Optimal Strength Training Load to Improve Swimming Performance? A Randomized Trial of Male Competitive Swimmers

Sofiene Amara, Emmet Crowley, Senda Sammoud, Yassine Negra, Raouf Hammami, Oussema Gaied Chortane, Riadh Khalifa, Sabri Gaied Chortane and Roland van den Tillaar
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Sofiene Amara: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Emmet Crowley: Biomechanics Research Unit, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
Senda Sammoud: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Yassine Negra: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Raouf Hammami: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Oussema Gaied Chortane: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Riadh Khalifa: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Sabri Gaied Chortane: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Roland van den Tillaar: Department of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Nord University, 7600 Levanger, Norway

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-10

Abstract: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of high, moderate, and low resistance training volume-load of maximum strength training on muscle strength and swimming performance in competitive swimmers. Thirty-three male swimmers were randomly allocated to high (age = 16.5 ± 0.30 years), moderate (age = 16.1 ± 0.32 years) and a low resistance training volume-load group (age = 15.9 ± 0.31). This study was carried out in mid-season (January to March). Pre and post strength (e.g., repetition maximum [1RM] leg extension and bench press tests), swimming (25, 50 m front-crawl), start (speed, time, distance) and turn (time of turn) performance tests were conducted. Our findings revealed a large main effect of time for 1RM bench press: d = 1.38; 1RM leg extension: d = 1.55, and for 25 (d = 1.12), and 50 m (d = 1.97) front-crawl, similarly for start and turn performance (d = 1.28–1.46). However, no significant Group × Time interactions were shown in all strength swimming performances, start and turn tests ( p > 0.05). In conclusion, low training loads have been shown to elicit the same results as moderate, and high training loads protocol. Therefore, this study shows evidence that the addition of low training volume-loads as a regular part of a maximal strength training regime will elicit improvements in strength and swimming performance.

Keywords: external training load; 1RM bench press; 1RM leg extension; start; turn (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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