Co-ordination Changes during a Maximal Effort 100 m Short Course Breaststroke Swim.

The aim of the study was to establish the changes in co-ordination that occur during a 100 m breaststroke swim from a water start by: 1) measuring the kinematic changes that occur as the swimmer progressed through the four laps and, 2) analysing the co-ordination of the arms and legs (transition phase) corresponding to the time between the end of the leg propulsion and the start of the arm propulsion phases. Breaststroke participants (n=8, females and n=18, males) performed a 100 m maximal swim in a 25 m pool. They were recorded underwater using three 50 Hz cameras (one at each end of the pool and one mounted on a trolley). The last three strokes prior to turns were analysed. Significant changes in clean swim speed (p<0.05) were found between laps. Results indicate that participants reduce transition phase of the stroke to try and maintain clean swim speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]