THE IMPACT OF LIMB SYMMETRY ON STROKE-TO-STROKE MOVEMENT VARIABILITY IN PARA-SWIMMERS DURING AN ADAPTED AEROBIC STEP TEST

Authors

Matthew Slopecki, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University; Institut National du Sport du QuébecFollow
Julien Clément, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University; Institut National du Sport du Québec; École de Technologie SupérieureFollow
Mathieu Charbonneau, Institut National du Sport du QuébecFollow
Julie N. Côté, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill UniversityFollow

Category

Water Sports

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

The study purpose was to measure effects of anthropometric limb characteristics on fatigue-related changes in stroke-to-stroke motor variability (MV) of trunk mediolateral (ML) acceleration. Six Paralympic swimmers performed an in-water, fatiguing, freestyle aerobic test consisting of 5 steps of 200m (n = 4); 150m (n = 1) or 100m (n = 1) with a sacrum worn inertial measurement unit. Upper-limb segment lengths were measured, and symmetry indices (LSI) were calculated. Sample entropy (SampEn) and fractal dimension (FD) were calculated on ML acceleration. Fatigue was confirmed with increased RPE (p < 0.01). ANOVA fatigue response models of SampEn and FD improved with LSI as a covariate (p < 0.01), showing that symmetry indices affected individual responses to fatigue. Coaches should consider anthropometric symmetry when designing para-swimming training plans.

Recommended Citation

Slopecki, Matthew; Clément, Julien; Charbonneau, Mathieu; and Côté, Julie N. (2024) "THE IMPACT OF LIMB SYMMETRY ON STROKE-TO-STROKE MOVEMENT VARIABILITY IN PARA-SWIMMERS DURING AN ADAPTED AEROBIC STEP TEST," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 42: Iss. 1, Article 49.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol42/iss1/49