Kinematic Analysis of the Underwater Undulatory Swimming Cycle: A Systematic and Synthetic Review

Santiago Veiga, Jorge Lorenzo (), Alfonso Trinidad, Robin Pla, Andrea Fallas-Campos and Alfonso de la Rubia ()
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Santiago Veiga: Grupo de Análisis Biomecánico, Departamento de Deportes, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jorge Lorenzo: Deporte y Entrenamiento Research Group, Departamento de Deportes, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Alfonso Trinidad: Aqualab Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Robin Pla: French Swimming Federation, 92110 Clichy, France
Andrea Fallas-Campos: Núcleo de Estudios para el Alto Rendimiento y la Salud (ACUAUNA-NARS), Escuela Ciencias del Movimiento Humano, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 86-3000, Costa Rica
Alfonso de la Rubia: Deporte y Entrenamiento Research Group, Departamento de Deportes, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-26

Abstract: The increase of low-cost technology for underwater filming has made quantitative analysis an affordable resource for swimming coaches on a frequent basis. In this context, a synthesis of the kinematic determinants of underwater undulatory swimming (UUS) seems to be lacking. The aim of the present study was to synthesise the scientific evidence on the kinematic characteristics of competitive swimmers during UUS and the main kinematic determinants of UUS performance, as well as to summarise the main methodological considerations for UUS kinematic analysis. A systematic literature search was performed through four electronic databases following the PRISMA guidelines and STROBE for evaluating the quality of the included studies. Twenty-three research studies from the first search and two from the second search were finally considered. In total, 412 competitive swimmers (321 males and 91 females) with a performance standard of international B (11%), national (51%), or regional (35%) level were analysed. Most studies focused on a two-dimensional analysis of the ventral UUS performed from a push start and filmed 6–12 m from the starting wall. Kinematic analysis of UUS included kicking parameters (kicking length, frequency, and amplitude) as well as selected segmental kinematics in 76% of studies and the analysis of UUS performance determinants in 36%. Information about the determinants of UUS performance was inconsistent due in part to inconsistencies in the definition of kinematic parameters. Further research studies where automatic motion capture systems are applied to the analysis of UUS on the aforementioned conditions should be conducted.

Keywords: performance; underwater filming; swimming start; swimming turn; segmental kinematics; angular kinematics; dolphin kick; competition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12196-:d:925677

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