Relationship between physical fitness indicators and sport specific performance in physically disabled swimmers

The aim of this study was to quantify relationship between physical fitness indicators and sport specific performance in physically disabled swimmers. Study included tweenty physically disabled athlete (mean age 18.2±3.69 years) between S6 – S9 sports class. Antropometric measurements consist of 7- site skinfold and chest circumference measurements. Aerobic endurance assessed by 12 minute Swim Test. Anaerobic power is measured by vertical jump test. For the muscular strength and endurance; biering-sorensen, McGill, sits-up and push-up tests were used. Flexibility is determined through; measurment of horizontal angle of arm, sit and reach, trunk flexion, side flexion and rotation tests. Swimming Performance was measured by 15, 50, 100 meters time trials. As a result, significant correlation was found between 15 meters swimming performance and body fat percentage, sit and reach, vertical jump test (p<0.05). There was a very strong correlation between 12 minute swim test and 15 meters swimming performance (r:-0,695, p <0.01).15 meters swimming time was explained with horizontal angle of the arms (right) and Biering-Sorensen test R2 = 0.690 (p <0.001). There was a very strong correlation between swimming performance and 12-minute swim test (p <0.01), and a significant negative correlation was found between vertical jump test and sit sup test (p <0.05).50 meters swimming time was explained with 12 min. swimming test, horizontal angle of arm (left) and push-up test R2 = 0.731 (p <0.001). 100 meters swimming time was explained with sits up test and the vertical jump test R2 = 0.647 (p <0.001). In this study, it was concluded that aerobic and anaerobic capacity related with the performance of the athlete, and as the distance increased, abdominal muscle strength play an important role in determining the performance.