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Dry-land resistance training for competitive swimming
H Tanaka1, D L Costill, R Thomas
1Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|August 1, 1993
Summary
Dry-land resistance training did not enhance front crawl swimming performance in collegiate swimmers. Despite strength gains, no significant differences in swim power or performance were observed between groups, suggesting training specificity limits transfer.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Swimming Biomechanics
Background:
- Dry-land resistance training is often incorporated to improve athletic performance.
- The specificity of training principle suggests that adaptations are specific to the training mode.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of dry-land resistance training on front crawl swimming performance.
- To determine if strength gains from dry-land training transfer to swimming power and efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Two groups of intercollegiate male swimmers (N=12 each) were compared: swim training only (SWIM) and combined swim and resistance training (COMBO).
- The COMBO group underwent an 8-week resistance program 3 days/week, simulating swimming actions.
- Both groups trained together 6 days/week for 14 weeks.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed significant power gains on a swim bench and tethered swim, with no difference between groups.
- No changes in distance per stroke were observed.
- No significant differences in swim power or performance tests were found between the SWIM and COMBO groups.
Conclusions:
- Dry-land resistance training did not improve front crawl swimming performance in this study.
- The lack of performance improvement may be attributed to the specificity of training, where dry-land strength gains do not directly translate to swimming propulsive force.