Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality

Effect of propelling surface size on the mechanics and energetics of front crawl swimming

Abstract In swimming the propulsive force is generated by giving a velocity change to masses of water. In this process energy is transferred from the swimmer to the water, which cannot be used to propel the swimmer. Theoretical considerations indicated that an increase of the propelling surface size should lead to a reduced loss of energy to the water. Thus, in this study, the effect of artificially enlarging the propelling surface of the hand was examined.

The effect was examined in terms of the propelling efficiency during front crawl swimming using the arms alone. The legs were floated with a small buoy as previously described (Toussaint et al., 1988a). In ten competitive swimmers (six male, four female) the rate of energy expenditure (power input, Pi), power output (Po), work per stroke cycle (As), distance per stroke cycle (d), work per unit distance (Ad), and propelling efficiency (ep) were determined at various swimming speeds once with and once swimming without paddles.

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Referentie

Toussaint, H. M., Janssen, T., & Kluft, M. 'Effect of propelling surface size on the mechanics and energetics of front crawl swimming'. In: Journal of Biomechanics, 24(3-4), 205-211, 1991.

Gepubliceerd door  Kenniscentrum Bewegen, Sport en Voeding 1 september 1991

Publicatiedatum

sep 1991

Auteur(s)

Lector Huub Toussiant