Muscle Activation in World-Champion, World-Class, and National Breaststroke Swimmers

Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017 Apr;12(4):538-547. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0703. Epub 2016 Sep 6.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the muscle-activation patterns and coactivation with the support of kinematics in some of the world's best breaststrokers and identify performance discriminants related to national elites at maximal effort.

Methods: Surface electromyography was collected in 8 muscles from 4 world-class (including 2 world champions) and 4 national elite breaststroke swimmers during a 25-m breaststroke at maximal effort.

Results: World-class spent less time during the leg recovery (P = .043), began this phase with a smaller knee angle (154.6° vs 161.8°), and had a higher median velocity of 0.18 m/s during the leg glide than national elites. Compared with national elites, world-class swimmers showed a difference in the muscle-activation patterns for all 8 muscles. In the leg-propulsion phase, there was less triceps brachii activation (1 swimmer 6% vs median 23.0% [8.8]). In the leg-glide phase, there was activation in rectus femoris and gastrocnemius during the beginning of this phase (all world-class vs only 1 national elite) and a longer activation in pectoralis major (world champions 71% [0.5] vs 50.0 [4.3]) (propulsive phase of the arms). In the leg-recovery phase, there was more activation in biceps femoris (50.0% [15.0] vs 20.0% [14.0]) and a later and quicker activation in tibialis anterior (40.0% [7.8] vs 52.0% [6.0]). In the stroke cycle, there was no coactivation in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius for world champions.

Conclusion: These components are important performance discriminants. They can be used to improve muscle-activation patterns and kinematics through the different breaststroke phases. Furthermore, they can be used as focus points for teaching breaststroke to beginners.

Keywords: coactivation; electromyography; motion analysis; performance; swimming.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arm / physiology
  • Athletes
  • Athletic Performance*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg / physiology
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Swimming / physiology*
  • Young Adult