Propulsive efficiency of breaststroke and freestyle swimming

  • Ingvar Holmér
Article
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Abstract

Average drag at a given rate of movement by three top swimmers was about twice as great in breast stroke and freestyle swimming as in passive towing with the body extended and horizontal in the water. The greatest degree of propulsive efficiency (7.7%) was calculated for the arm strokes alone in the freestyle. The freestyle and breast stroke produced values for efficiency amounting to 5.6 to 6.6% and 3.8 to 5.7% respectively. Propulsive efficiency was calculated for the leg strokes only in the breast stroke and freestyle at 2.4 to 3.8% and 1.3 to 2.4% respectively.

Key words

Drag Swimming with Leg Kicks Arm Strokes and the Entire Stroke 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1974

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ingvar Holmér
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of PhysiologyGymnastik-och idrottshögskolanSweden
  2. 2.Work Physiology DivisionNational Board of Occupational Safety and HealthStockholm

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