Kinematical and Muscular Fatigue in Swimmers

Analysis of Kinematical and Muscular Fatigue in Long Distance Swimmers

During a submaximal task, gradual muscle fatigue occurs, which inevitably results in a decline in performance (mechanical failure). Elite athletes are known to employ unconscious compensatory strategies during fatiguing submaximal tasks in an attempt to delay the onset of mechanical failure as long as possible.

The purpose of this study was to gain valuable insight into the strategies used by elite swimmers to cope with mechanical failure. Twenty-two swimmers were subjected to a swim test consisting of swimming as long as possible at a predetermined and controlled pace. A light strip positioned at the bottom of the pool allows athletes to get feedback on which gait to keep. The kinematics (stroke rate, stroke length, and efficiency index) and electrical activity of 10 muscle groups were analyzed and compared at the beginning of the test (non-fatiguing conditions), just before the athlete lost the ability to maintain the predetermined pace (pre-mechanical failure), and after the athlete lost the ability to maintain the pace (mechanical failure). It is hypothesized that as fatigue becomes more pronounced and the point of inability to maintain a predetermined speed is approached, increased EMG activity will occur in key muscles while other muscle groups may show more obvious signs of fatigue. In addition, changes in the rhythm and coordination of upper limb movements may occur.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Swimming Fatigue Task

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 23
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Genova, Italy, 16122
    • Università degli Studi di Genova

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Middle- or long-distance swimmer specializing in front crawl
2. At least 3 years of experience in international competition
3. Daily use of flashing light for pace control in aerobic, anaerobic threshold and maximum oxygen consumption training.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) Presence of muscle pain or soreness that could prevent the athlete from performing at their best

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: swimmers	Other: Swimming Fatigue Task; Swim freestyle at a steady, controlled pace until mechanical failure (i.e., inability to maintain the predetermined speed) is reached.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Biceps Brachii muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Triceps Brachii caput lateralis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Deltoideus Lateralis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Latissimus Dorsi muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Superior Trapezius muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Erector Spinae muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Pectoralis Major pars clavicularis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Rectus Femoris muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Biceps Femoris muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Kinematic parameters	stroke frequency (time required to complete a stroke cycle)	up to 10 minutes
Kinematic parameters	stroke length (distance traveled during each stroke cycle))	up to 10 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Biceps Brachii muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Triceps Brachii caput lateralis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Deltoideus Lateralis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Latissimus Dorsi muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Superior Trapezius muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Erector Spinae muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Pectoralis Major pars clavicularis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Rectus Femoris muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Biceps Femoris muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universita degli Studi di Genova

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 5, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 5, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: sEMG; performance; muscle fatigue; swimming; Neuromuscular Strategy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Fatigue
• Other Study ID Numbers: DINOGMI-2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No