Effects of 8 weeks of flexibility and endurance training on swimming performance and physical, physiological and biomotor characteristics in swimmers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of an 8-week flexibility and endurance-based training program on some physical, physiological, and motor skills in swimmers. This study utilized a pre-test-post-test control group experimental research design. Thirty-four actively licensed male swimmers volunteered for the study, and the participants were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (17 athletes with a mean age of (11.82 ± 0.32) years) and the control group (17 athletes with a mean age of (11.88 ± 0.33) years). The experimental group underwent flexibility and endurance training four days a week in addition to swimming training, while the control group continued only swimming training. Before and after the 8-week training period, the athletes' flexibility, hand grip strength (Right hand-Left hand), leg strength, vertical jump, 50-meter freestyle swimming, 20-meter sprint, agility (T-Test), and some respiratory parameters (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25-75%, and MVV) were measured. The data obtained within the scope of the study were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 package program. Normality of the data was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and the Independent-Samples T-Test was used for between-group comparisons of normally distributed data, and the Paired-Samples T-Test was used for within-group comparisons. The significance level in the study was accepted as (p<0.05). As a result of the study, statistically significant improvements were observed in flexibility, hand grip strength (right hand-left hand), leg strength, vertical jump, some respiratory parameters, and 50-meter swimming performance in the experimental group (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences were found in flexibility, hand grip strength (right hand-left hand), leg strength, and 50-meter swimming performance in the control group, but these improvements were limited (p<0.05). No significant differences were detected in the 20-meter speed and agility tests in either group (p>0.05). In conclusion, the findings showed that systematically planned flexibility and endurance-based training is effective in improving physical fitness and performance in swimmers. In this context, the study emphasizes the importance of supportive training programs for athletes in the development period. Key Words: Swimming, physical, physiological, biomotor