Effect of expertise on butterfly stroke coordination

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the arm-to-leg coordination in the butterfly stroke of three groups of male swimmers of varying skill (10 elite, 10 non-elite, and 10 young swimmers) at four race paces (400-m, 200-m, 100-m, and 50-m paces). Using qualitative video analysis and a hip velocity-video system (50 Hz), key events of the arm and leg movement cycles were defined and four-point estimates of relative phase were used to estimate the arm-to-leg coordination between the propulsive (pull and push of arms and downward movement of leg undulation) and non-propulsive phases (entry, catch, and recovery of arms and upward movement of leg undulation). With increasing race pace, the velocity, stroke rate, and synchronization between the arm and leg key points also increased, indicating that velocity and stroke rate may operate as control parameters. Finally, these changes led to greater continuity between the propulsive actions, which is favourable for improving the swim velocity, suggesting that coaches and swimmers should monitor arm-to-leg coordination.

Keywords:

• Coordination
• butterfly stroke
• motor control
• biomechanics
• expertise