Thermographic evaluation of muscle activity after front crawl swimming in young men.

PURPOSE: The information about the workload on individual muscles in the course of a specific physical activity is essential for targeted prevention, early diagnosis and suitable therapy concerning their overloading and injury. The aim of this study is to evaluate temperature changes in particular skin areas in the course of front crawl swimming, caused by muscle work. METHODS: Thermograms were taken of 13 students of Defense University immediately and 15 minutes after swimming 1,000 m focused on 20 regions of the skin over the selected agonists and synergists in upper extremities and body. FLUKE TiR infrared hand camera was used. RESULTS: The results indicated the significant increase in the relative temperatures in the areas of agonists of swimmers' movement - triceps brachii: from 0.952 to 0.997 of normalized units (nu) on the right and from 0.955 to 0.986 nu on the left. At the same time, the temperature of the muscles participating in lifting the arms above the water surface and stretching them forward - deltoids - increased as well (rear part: from 1.002 to 1.015 nu on the right and from 1.002 to 1.014 nu on the left, sides: from 1.008 to 1.023 nu on the right and from 1.011 to 1.023 nu on the left). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the order of the other agonists is as follows: biceps brachii, pectoralis major muscle, and latissimus dorsi. This study provides the options for objective assessment of workload on specific muscles or muscle groups during front crawl swimming.

Case Study: Competition Nutrition Intakes During the Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Races in Elite Female Swimmer.

The nutritional intake of elite open water swimmers during competition is not well established, and therefore this case study aims to provide new insights by describing the feeding strategies adopted by an elite female swimmer (28 yrs; height; 1.71 m; body mass: 60 kg; body fat: 16.0%) in the FINA open water Grand Prix 2014.Seven events of varying distances (15-88 km) and durations (3-12 hrs) were included. In all events, except one, feeds were provided from support boats. Swimmer and support staff were instructed to track in detail all foods and beverages consumed during the events. Nutritional information was gathered from the packaging and dietary supplements labels and analyzed by nutrition software. Mean carbohydrate (CHO) and protein intake reached 83 ± 5 g·h-1 and 12 ± 8 g·h-1, respectively. Fat intake was neglected (~1 g·h-1). Mean in-race energy intake reached 394 ± 26 kcal·h-1. Dietary supplements in the form of sport beverages and gels, containing multitransportable CHO, provided 40 ± 4 and 49 ± 6% of all CHO energy, respectively. Caffeine (3.6 ± 1.8 mg·kg-1 per event) and sodium (423 ± 16 mg·h-1) were additionally supplemented in all events. It was established that continuous intake of high doses of CHO and sodium and moderate dose of caffeine were an essential part of the feeding strategy for elite-level high intensity ultra-endurance open-water swimming races. A well scheduled and well-prepared nutrition strategy is believed to have ensured optimal individual performance during Grand Prix events.

The influence of breaststroke swimming on the muscle activity of young men in thermographic imaging.

The aim of this work is to describe and assess energetic-metabolic activity of selected muscles of upper extremities and body during breaststroke swimming through infrared thermography as electromyography cannot display such muscle activity. Thermograms were taken of 25 students from the University of Defence immediately and 15 minutes after swimming 1,000 m focused on 20 regions of interest, i.e., corresponding to selected agonists and synergists in upper extremities and body. We used FLUKE TiR infrared hand camera. It was found that there is a significant increase (normalized units) 15 minutes after swimming in triceps brachii (on the right prior to swimming 0.950 and after swimming 0.994; on the left prior to swimming 0.947 and after 0.990), and in side, rear and front parts of the deltoid muscles. On the contrary, there was a significant relative decrease in temperature in pectoralis, rhombic and lower trapezius, erector spinae lumbalis and latissimus dorsi. It can be concluded that swimming 1,000 m breaststroke affected significant increase in the temperature of regions of interest, i.e., corresponding to agonists and synergists of upper extremities for the swimmer's forward motion. A relative decrease in temperature occurred rather in body muscles. The problem of biased results due to water cooling was solved by using thermograms taken only in the 15th minute after getting out of water and calculating relative temperatures with normalized units.