Investigation of physical and physiological factors affected by swimming economy in age group swimmers

Objective: Swimming economy is an essential issue which has a significant impact on swimming performance. In this study, it is aimed to examine and determine the factors affecting swimming economy in age group swimmers. Method: Forty-nine swimmers participated to the study (33 at 11-12 and 16 at 13-16 years of age). Body composition and anthropometric measurements of participants were performed. 6x50 meters and 5x200 meters freestyle swimming step tests were applied for 11-12 and 13-16 age-groups, respectively. Stroke length, stroke rate, swimming velocity and stroke index were determined in the tests. Results: There was a significant correlation stroke length between and age, body surface area, swimming velocity, stroke index and stroke rate in 11-12 age-group. There was a significant correlation between swimming velocity and age, fat percentage and some anthropometric measurements. There was a significant correlation between stroke index and age, fat percentage and some anthropometric measurements. Significant correlation was found between stroke length and hand width, trunk length, swimming velocity and stroke index in 13-16 age-group. There was a significant correlation between swimming velocity and muscle percentage, fat percentage, trunk length, waist-hip ratio and hand width. In 13-16 age-group male swimmers, there was a significant correlation between stroke index, hand width, trunk length and swimming velocity. Conclusion: Swimming economy has a significant relationship with physical parameters, while physiological parameters do not. Our results show that age group swimmers need technical qualities rather than physiological parameters in order to sustain the swimming economy. Performance of age group swimmers should be monitored not only by swimming velocity but also by swimming economy and technical parameters. Key Words: Swimming economy, age group swimmers, physical parameters.