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AquaTrainer® Snorkel does not Increase Hydrodynamic Drag but Influences Turning Time
J Ribeiro1, P Figueiredo2, L Guidetti3
1Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|December 16, 2015
Summary
The AquaTrainer® respiratory snorkel does not increase hydrodynamic drag during front crawl swimming. However, using it with an open turn technique significantly increases turning time compared to standard methods.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Swimming Performance
Background:
- Respiratory snorkels are used in swimming training to enhance technique and build respiratory capacity.
- The impact of snorkels on hydrodynamic drag and turning efficiency in front crawl is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of the AquaTrainer® respiratory snorkel on front crawl hydrodynamic drag.
- To determine if using the snorkel with an adapted turning technique affects turning time.
Main Methods:
- 12 swimmers completed front crawl repetitions at various velocities with and without the AquaTrainer® snorkel.
- Active drag was measured using a specialized system.
- Three turning techniques were compared: open turn with snorkel, tumble turn, and open turn without snorkel.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in hydrodynamic drag was observed between swimming with and without the AquaTrainer® snorkel across a range of velocities (p≥0.05).
- Swimming front crawl with the snorkel using an open turn technique resulted in a significant increase in turning time (14.2% vs. tumble turn, 5.1% vs. open turn without snorkel; p<0.01).
Conclusions:
- The AquaTrainer® snorkel does not adversely affect hydrodynamic drag or metabolic energy expenditure during front crawl swimming.
- Swimmers must account for the increased turning time when using the AquaTrainer® snorkel in training and research settings.
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