Date
12-11-2024
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)
Chair
Eric Sobolewski
Keywords
Resisted plyometrics, swimming, squat jump, dive, turn, sprint freestyle
Disciplines
Kinesiology
Recommended Citation
Newman, David, "Physiological Response to Resisted Plyometric Training on Swimmers Sprint Swim Abilities" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6300.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6300
Abstract
This study used a casual comparative/quasi-experimental research design to determine whether resisted plyometric training has a more significant effect than non-resisted plyometric training on competitive teenage swimmers’ power and speed. Twelve swimmers were randomly assigned to a resisted group (n = 6, age: 14.5 ± 0.96 years; G (RES)) and an unresisted group (n = 6, age 14.17 ± 1.77 years; G UNRES). In both RES and UNRES groups the plyometric training consisted of lateral box step-ups and squat jumps before swim training twice per week. Pre and post-tests consisted of a power test (vertical jump via Vertical Jump Challenger) and three swim tests: 25-yard freestyle kick with a board from a push off the wall, 25-yard freestyle swim from a push off the wall, and a 50-yard freestyle swim off the diving block (digital timestamps via Swim Coach Plus Application). Results showed a 3.81 cm improvement in the UNRES groups vertical jump test (41.06 ± 9.83, 44.87 ± 9.59) and 6.35 cm improvement in the RES (40.22 ± 12.69, 46.57 ± 10.86) but no statistically significant difference. There was no interaction effect for the 25-yard freestyle kick from a push and the 25-yard swim from a push off the wall. In the 50-yard freestyle off the block there was an effect for time (pre vs. post) F(7.264), p=0.022. The RES group improved by 0.37 seconds (28.58 ± 1.90, 28.21 ± 1.65) and the UNRES group improved by 0.75 seconds (30.97 ± 4.12, 30.22 ± 4.11). Results suggested a positive effect of plyometric training on swimming specific tasks such as the dive or turn (i.e., 50-yard freestyle from a dive). Recommendation towards future research should be towards assessments that test the swimmers turn more frequently (i.e., 75-100-200-yard freestyle sprint off the diving block) and should start with a dive as it is the most sport specific assessment.
