Physiological aspects of swimming performance for persons with disabilities

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the various factors involved in the performances of three groups of swimmers with disabilities. These factors were average VO2max (Av-VO2max) measured during swimming and gliding factors measured by the passive drag. Thirty-four swimmers with disabilities were assigned into three groups ranging from more disabilities to fewer disabilities. The first group (G I) included 13 subjects in wheelchairs, the second group (G II) 10 subjects walking with technical aids, and the third group (G III) 11 swimmers with disabilities walking without any help. For G I, the performances and Av-VO2max were lower (P < 0.05) than for G II and G III while the passive drag was higher than for G III (P < 0.05). The performances, Av-VO2max, and passive drag were not statistically different between G II and G III. Some of the swimmers had a pronounced amyotrophia of the lower extremities (i.e., reduced volume of inactive muscles). The height from the top of the head to the beginning of the bilateral amyotrophia was called "height without amyotrophia" (HWA). In the whole group, passive drag was not related to the mass or the height but to the ratio mass/HWA (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). However, within each group, passive drag was mainly related to the mass (r = 0.63, 0.78, 0.62, P < 0.01, for G I, G II, and G III respectively). Performances of a 100-m and 400-m swim were mainly related to Av-VO2peak (r = 0.81 and 0.79, P < 0.01, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)