Kinematical and Muscular Fatigue in Swimmers

NCT06069440 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DINOGMI-2023
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 23
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

During a submaximal task, gradual muscle fatigue occurs, which inevitably results in a decline in performance (mechanical failure). Elite athletes are known to employ unconscious compensatory strategies during fatiguing submaximal tasks in an attempt to delay the onset of mechanical failure as long as possible. The purpose of this study was to gain valuable insight into the strategies used by elite swimmers to cope with mechanical failure. Twenty-two swimmers were subjected to a swim test consisting of swimming as long as possible at a predetermined and controlled pace. A light strip positioned at the bottom of the pool allows athletes to get feedback on which gait to keep. The kinematics (stroke rate, stroke length, and efficiency index) and electrical activity of 10 muscle groups were analyzed and compared at the beginning of the test (non-fatiguing conditions), just before the athlete lost the ability to maintain the predetermined pace (pre-mechanical failure), and after the athlete lost the ability to maintain the pace (mechanical failure). It is hypothesized that as fatigue becomes more pronounced and the point of inability to maintain a predetermined speed is approached, increased EMG activity will occur in key muscles while other muscle groups may show more obvious signs of fatigue. In addition, changes in the rhythm and coordination of upper limb movements may occur.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

muscle fatigue; Neuromuscular Strategy; performance; sEMG; swimming

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (12)

• Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Biceps Brachii muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Triceps Brachii caput lateralis muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Deltoideus Lateralis muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Latissimus Dorsi muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Superior Trapezius muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Erector Spinae muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Pectoralis Major pars clavicularis muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Rectus Femoris muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Biceps Femoris muscle activity

  Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)

  up to 10 minutes

• Kinematic parameters

  stroke frequency (time required to complete a stroke cycle)

  up to 10 minutes

• Kinematic parameters

  stroke length (distance traveled during each stroke cycle))

  up to 10 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle fatigue

  up to 10 minutes

• Biceps Brachii muscle fatigue

  up to 10 minutes

• Triceps Brachii caput lateralis muscle fatigue

  up to 10 minutes

• Deltoideus Lateralis muscle fatigue

  up to 10 minutes

• Latissimus Dorsi muscle fatigue

  up to 10 minutes

Study Arms (1)

swimmers

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Swimming Fatigue Task

Interventions

Swimming Fatigue Task OTHER

Swim freestyle at a steady, controlled pace until mechanical failure (i.e., inability to maintain the predetermined speed) is reached.

swimmers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Middle- or long-distance swimmer specializing in front crawl
• At least 3 years of experience in international competition
• Daily use of flashing light for pace control in aerobic, anaerobic threshold and maximum oxygen consumption training.

You may not qualify if:

• \) Presence of muscle pain or soreness that could prevent the athlete from performing at their best

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universita degli Studi di Genova: lead

Study Sites (1)

Università degli Studi di Genova

Genova, 16122, Italy

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Puce L, Biz C, Ruaro A, Mori F, Bellofiore A, Nicoletti P, Bragazzi NL, Ruggieri P. Analysis of Kinematic and Muscular Fatigue in Long-Distance Swimmers. Life (Basel). 2023 Oct 27;13(11):2129. doi: 10.3390/life13112129.

  PMID: 38004269 DERIVED

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2023
• First Posted: October 5, 2023
• Study Start: February 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2022
• Study Completion: August 1, 2023
• Last Updated: October 5, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)