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The 400-m Front Crawl Test: Energetic and 3D Kinematical Analyses
Ricardo de Assis Correia1, Wellington Gomes Feitosa1,2, Pedro Figueiredo3,4
1School of Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|November 23, 2019
Summary
The 400-m front crawl relies mainly on aerobic power, but anaerobic alactic metabolism also significantly impacts performance. Understanding these energy systems is key for competitive swimmers.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- The 400-m front crawl is a demanding swimming event.
- Understanding the interplay of energy systems and biomechanics is crucial for optimizing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relative contributions of energetic and kinematic factors to 400-m front crawl performance.
- To identify key physiological and biomechanical predictors of success in this event.
Main Methods:
- Direct measurement of oxygen consumption and blood lactate concentration to assess energy expenditure (aerobic, anaerobic lactic, anaerobic alactic).
- Three-dimensional kinematic analysis to measure mean center of mass speed and intracycle velocity variation.
- Statistical analysis including correlation and multiple linear regression.
Main Results:
- The 400-m front crawl is predominantly fueled by aerobic metabolism (87.8%).
- Anaerobic alactic (6.1%) and anaerobic lactic (5.9%) contributions are smaller but significant.
- Mean center of mass speed and anaerobic alactic power were identified as key determinants of performance (R²=0.92).
Conclusions:
- While aerobic capacity is paramount, anaerobic alactic contribution is critical for elite 400-m front crawl swimmers.
- Kinematic parameters, particularly mean center of mass speed, are strong predictors of performance.
- Training programs should consider both aerobic development and anaerobic alactic power enhancement.
