VIDEO: Check Out What a Swimmer Looks Like at a MusculoSkeletal Level

Ever wondered exactly what your arms and legs were doing during each of the four primary competitive swimming strokes: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle?

We came across this video today on Facebook, and found the original source (as best as we can tell) on a YouTube channel called “anybodytech” from 2008.

The video looks at a muscular and skeletal level at what is happening during each of the four major strokes. When a muscle turns purple, that means it is activated.

The research for these videos was done by a doctor Nakamisha at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. In the video’s info, there is a link to see more information on each video.

If you were ever wondering why, exactly, butterfly is so exhausting, this video gives a good indication – the arm muscles are constantly activated. Unlike the other strokes, there’s never any significant period of relaxation.

10
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

10 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
jp
9 years ago

I remember having seen this before, http://www.swum.org/, may be the original source for the material. Anyway the site is interesting.

HG
9 years ago

The report on the skeletons retrieved with the Mary Rose – Henry V111’s doomed mega battleship,, determined exactly what their training was by the bone density & muscle attachment impact.

I wonder what forensic anthropologists will make out if they were to uncover victims of a swim squad disaster 500 years on. Picturethis – an elite squad goes to camp in a volcanic island & whoosh – buried by lava . They might deduce this was in fact Atlantis where everybody had to swim miles & miles everyday as some sort of survival or religious ritual.

Swimmers & coaches should always be looking at muscular/ skeletal impact in this life & with consideration at what will they think in… Read more »

ChestRockwell
9 years ago

I’d like to see the musculoskeletal breakdown of this stroke:

http://swim.isport.com/swimming-videos/play/learning-to-swim-without-injury-18590

Do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to watch that. It is a true gem of the internet and something any swimming fan will enjoy.

jman
Reply to  ChestRockwell
9 years ago

Hey i’ve seen this before in the Olympics. He didn’t start with the cross-stroke but switched to it toward his final sprint. Now i know where he went to train.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woYG6Uq6OVU

Sven
Reply to  ChestRockwell
9 years ago

So that’s how Thorpe did it.

ChestRockwell
Reply to  Sven
9 years ago

You see, when the arm goes under water, the shoulder loses the ability to pull backwards…..

Becky D
Reply to  Sven
9 years ago

It’s too bad Thorpe didn’t use this technique, because it he had, he’d be injury free.

I know that because the the internet said so.

jman
9 years ago

if you are really a geek you can listen to a tough lecture on how their analysis system was developed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB0ULNlUoYE&index=3&list=PLFfwPdNH_Wt2GzyVcyJMObs4bXJm4sj_F

What is unknown is the swimmer used. Obvious differences in technique will play a role in which muscles are activated. Would love to see:

Ledecky for free
Phelps fly
Pearsol back
and a variety for breast depending on technique

dude
9 years ago

where’s the video?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »