Relationships Between Propulsion and Anthropometry in Paralympic Swimmers

Purpose: To characterise relationships between propulsion, anthropometry, and performance in Paralympic swimming. Methods: A cross-sectional study of swimmers (13 male, 15 female) aged 20.5 ± 4.4 yr (mean ± SD) was conducted. Subjects locomotor categorisations were: no- physical disability (n= 8, classes S13-S14), low-severity (n= 11, classes S9-S10) or mid-severity (n= 9, classes S6-S8). Full anthropometric profiles estimated muscle mass and body fat, a bilateral swim-bench ergometer quantified upper-body power production, and 100-m time trials quantified swimming performance. Results: Correlations between ergometer mean power and swimming performance increased with degree of physical disability (low-severity, male r= 0.65, ±0.56 and female r= 0.68, ±0.64; mid-severity, r= 0.87, ±0.41 and r= 0.79, ±0.75). Female mid-severity group showed near perfect (positive) relationships for taller swimmers (with a greater muscle mass and longer arm span) swimming faster. While for female no- and low-severity disability groups, greater muscle mass was associated with slower velocity (r= 0.78, ±0.43 and r= 0.65, ±0.66). This was supported with lighter females (with less frontal surface area) in the low-severity group were faster (r= 0.94, ±0.24). In a gender contrast, low-severity males with less muscle mass (r= -0.64, ±0.56), high skinfolds (r= 0.78, ±0.43), a longer arm span (r= 0.58, ±0.60) or smaller frontal surface area (r= -0.93, ±0.19) were detrimental to swimming velocity production. Conclusion: Low-severity male and mid-severity female Paralympic swimmers should be encouraged to develop muscle mass and upper body power to enhance swimming performance. The generalised anthropometric measures appear to be a secondary consideration for coaches