Kinematical and Muscular Fatigue in Swimmers

Healthy Clinical Trial

Official title:

Analysis of Kinematical and Muscular Fatigue in Long Distance Swimmers

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06069440
• Other study ID #: DINOGMI-2023
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: August 1, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: October 2023
• Source: Universita degli Studi di Genova
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

During a submaximal task, gradual muscle fatigue occurs, which inevitably results in a decline in performance (mechanical failure). Elite athletes are known to employ unconscious compensatory strategies during fatiguing submaximal tasks in an attempt to delay the onset of mechanical failure as long as possible.

The purpose of this study was to gain valuable insight into the strategies used by elite swimmers to cope with mechanical failure. Twenty-two swimmers were subjected to a swim test consisting of swimming as long as possible at a predetermined and controlled pace. A light strip positioned at the bottom of the pool allows athletes to get feedback on which gait to keep. The kinematics (stroke rate, stroke length, and efficiency index) and electrical activity of 10 muscle groups were analyzed and compared at the beginning of the test (non-fatiguing conditions), just before the athlete lost the ability to maintain the predetermined pace (pre-mechanical failure), and after the athlete lost the ability to maintain the pace (mechanical failure). It is hypothesized that as fatigue becomes more pronounced and the point of inability to maintain a predetermined speed is approached, increased EMG activity will occur in key muscles while other muscle groups may show more obvious signs of fatigue. In addition, changes in the rhythm and coordination of upper limb movements may occur.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 23
• Est. completion date: August 1, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: March 1, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 16 Years to 24 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Middle- or long-distance swimmer specializing in front crawl

2. At least 3 years of experience in international competition

3. Daily use of flashing light for pace control in aerobic, anaerobic threshold and maximum oxygen consumption training.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) Presence of muscle pain or soreness that could prevent the athlete from performing at their best

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fatigue
• Healthy

Intervention

Other:
• Swimming Fatigue Task
Swim freestyle at a steady, controlled pace until mechanical failure (i.e., inability to maintain the predetermined speed) is reached.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Italy	Università degli Studi di Genova	Genova

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Universita degli Studi di Genova

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Italy, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Biceps Brachii muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Triceps Brachii caput lateralis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Deltoideus Lateralis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Latissimus Dorsi muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Superior Trapezius muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Erector Spinae muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Pectoralis Major pars clavicularis muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Rectus Femoris muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Biceps Femoris muscle activity	Electromyographic signal analysis (Root Mean Square)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Kinematic parameters	stroke frequency (time required to complete a stroke cycle)	up to 10 minutes
Primary	Kinematic parameters	stroke length (distance traveled during each stroke cycle))	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Biceps Brachii muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Triceps Brachii caput lateralis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Deltoideus Lateralis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Latissimus Dorsi muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Superior Trapezius muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Erector Spinae muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Pectoralis Major pars clavicularis muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Rectus Femoris muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes
Secondary	Biceps Femoris muscle fatigue	time-course evolution of the median frequency of the power density spectrum (MF [Hz]) of the sEMG signal	up to 10 minutes