The following comes to us from swimmer and coach Josh Hurley, who put together a research paper on dryland training and its specific application to swimming. We’re splitting the bulk of the paper into a series, but you can see the full paper (including abbreviations, a comprehensive glossary, and a bibliography) here.
Intro
Full intro in document linked above
The purpose of this report is to identify the key aspects of training and how best dry land training can supplement all strokes and areas of a competitive swim; including starts and turns. A portfolio of information from academic research will firstly be considered and after analysis and interpretation of the information a conclusion will be drawn as to how best to maximise performance.
TRAINING SCIENCE AND APPLICATION
TRAINING MAXIMAL STRENGTH
There are a variety of reasons for including maximal strength work in an athletes dry land training program:
’Strength training with emphasis on maximal mobilisation of force should (…) be included in training for improved endurance performance for athletes as well as for rehabilitation and in preventive medicine.’ (Hoff et al. 2002).
It is thought that maximal strength is based on the repetitions and training volume. Campos and a team of academics studied such factors.
CAMPOS 2002 STUDY (Campos, 2002)
‘Subjects were divided into four groups: a low repetition group performing 3-5 repetitions maximum (RM) for four sets of each exercise with 3 min rest between sets and exercises, an intermediate repetition group performing 9-11 RM for three sets with 2 min rest, a high repetition group performing 20-28 RM for two sets with 1 min rest, and a non-exercising control group. Three exercises (leg press, squat, and knee extension) were performed 2 days/week for the first 4 weeks and 3 days/week for the final 4 weeks.’
Results:
- ‘Maximal strength improved significantly more for the Low Rep group compared to the other training groups’
- ‘maximal number of repetitions at 60% 1RM improved the most for the High Rep group’
- ‘maximal aerobic power and time to exhaustion significantly increased at the end of the study for only the High Rep groups’
- ‘All three major fibre types hypertrophied for the Low Rep in Int Rep groups’
- ‘all three training regimens resulted in similar fibre-type transformations (IIB to IIA)’
- ‘low to intermediate repetition resistance-training programs induced a greater hypertrophic effect compare to the high repetition regimen.’
- ‘High Rep group, appeared better adapted for sub maximal, prolonged contractions, with significant increases after training in aerobic power and time to exhaustion.’
Conclusions:
To best suit a competitive swimmer it appears that a high repetition program would be more beneficial. This would allow a greater time to exhaustion in the muscles and a greater aerobic power output available to the athlete. Swimmers rarely use maximal strength in the pool meaning a lower repetition program would not be as beneficial. All the regimen resulted in more aerobic ‘fast twitch’ muscle fibres; benefitting sprint swimmers more than long distance swimmers (as they are more Type A dominant – due to long term usage).
There is also a link between strength and power output. To output maximal power initially a foundation of strength should be set down: ‘improved their maximal strength, the ability to generate maximal power and velocity during athletic movements also increased in the absence of any specific ballistic power training.’ (Cormie et al. 2010). Proving that maximal strength training to isolate and develop muscles also improves other athletic characteristics. This is supported by an earlier study: ‘This study provides support for the use of a combination of traditional and Olympic-style weightlifting exercises and plyometric drills to improve vertical jumping ability and explosive performance’ (Fatouros, 2000).
TRAINING EXPLOSIVE POTENTIAL
A key aspect to training is the explosive power available for the athlete to access; especially during the starts and turns. Therefore inclusion of exercises boosting explosive power will benefit performance. During turns the key movements are similar to that of the deep squat or squat jump. Explosive power is focused on the concentric portion of a movement as this is often the point when the most power can be exerted.
PLYOMETRIC (JUMP) TRAINING
Plyometric exercises use muscles to produce the maximum possible force; this is explosive power.
POTDEVIN STUDY (Potdevin et al. 2011)
- ‘Examined in pubescent swimmers the effects of front crawl performances of a 6 week plyometric training (PT) in addition to the habitual swimming program.’
- ‘PT consisted in long, lateral high and depth jumps before swimming’
- ‘Pre and post tests were performed by jump test (squat jump(SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ)) and swim tests: as gliding task, 400m and 50m front crawl’
- ‘Significant correlations were found (…) between (…) SJ and (the 50m swim)’
- ‘Results suggested a positive effect of PT on (…) dive or turn but not in kicking propulsion’
Showing that plyometric training can benefit the starts and turns of swimmers but shows limited effect on kicking as this is not dependant on power, rather continuous repeated movements. However the target group is adolescents (around 14 years old) meaning validity is questioned as at that age it is difficult to control all variables due to puberty. Use of the comparative control group reinforces the validity as there was no change in these athletes.
KEOHANE STUDY (KEOHANE, 1977)
Hypothesis:
‘as a result of depth jump training, there is a significant increase in vertical jumping ability on the ground.’
Results:
‘supported at the .01 level’. This means that there is a correlation between the inclusion of depth jump training and jumping ability which is linked to explosive power (primarily in the legs).
Conclusions:
‘a six week depth jumping program is an effective method of improving leg power’.
This second study is completed on a similar group but shows very similar results making both studies more reliable. Therefore it appears beneficial to include plyometric exercises for leg development to contribute to more powerful starts and turn exits.
TRAINING FOR ENDURANCE
Swimming is dependant on repeated motions for multiple repetitions. For only a single olympic length around 35-40 strokes on average (at a medium competitive level). Most events are much longer than 50m and therefore require even more stokes or repetition. This is why endurance training is so important for swimmers.
Using a lower weight than maximum (around 65-70%) for many repetitions is the most common way of training for endurance.
‘Elite endurance athletes perform 80 % or more of their training at intensities clearly below their lactate threshold and use high-intensity training surprisingly sparingly.’ (Seiler et al. 2009).
Seiler et al. suggests that the best way to train long distance athletes is to lower the high intensity work. However for swimmers there is a need for both, meaning it is important to incorporate both intensities into the program. It may be easiest to complete the endurance training in the pool but a high repetition strength should also be formed in dry land training.
However there is a common issue with endurance training. Using high repetitions means an increased chance of injury. This is as the muscles become more fatigued and concentration may be lost by the athlete throughout the multiple repetition work. Loss of good form can lead to excess strain and loads on joints; leading to injury. However it could be argued that due to the low weight this training is ‘safer’
(Gabbett, 2016)
The graph shows correlation between training with higher loads increases the chances of injury. However there is no evidence that having higher repetitions will not have the same effect.
Up next: training types & conclusions
About Josh Hurley
Josh Hurley is a qualified and practicing Swimming Teacher as well as a Fellow of the Institute of Swimming in England, he is currently training to become a swimming coach following his experiences as Club Captain of a British swimming club. Josh is also studying dentistry at King’s College London and uses his understanding of human biology to research innovative methods of coaching future generations of swimmers.
Very interesting series. The conclusion that a higher rep program is most effective makes sense; another consideration is that it is much easier to get injured during low rep training. This is modality specific of course. Excited to hear about training types. I’m wondering if kettlebells and resistance bands will be mentioned, they seem under-utilized. Barbell training has a steep learning curve and should rarely be used to develop explosive power in untrained populations.