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Energetics of swimming: a historical perspective

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Abstract

The energy cost to swim a unit distance (C sw) is given by the ratio \( \dot{E}/v \) where \( \dot{E} \) is the net metabolic power and v is the swimming speed. The contribution of the aerobic and anaerobic energy sources to \( \dot{E} \) in swimming competitions is independent of swimming style, gender or skill and depends essentially upon the duration of the exercise. C sw is essentially determined by the hydrodynamic resistance (W d): the higher W d the higher C sw; and by the propelling efficiency (η P): the higher η P the lower C sw. Hence, all factors influencing W d and/or η P result in proportional changes in C sw. Maximal metabolic power \( (\dot{E}_{\max } ) \) and C sw are the main determinants of swimming performance; an improvement in a subject’s best performance time can more easily be obtained by a reduction of C sw rather than by an (equal) increase in \( \dot{E}_{\max } \) (in either of its components, aerobic or anaerobic). These sentences, which constitute a significant contribution to today’s knowledge about swimming energetics, are based on the studies that Professor Pietro Enrico di Prampero and his co-workers carried out since the 1970s. This paper is devoted to examine how this body of work helped to improve our understanding of this fascinating mode of locomotion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e della Visione, Facoltà di Scienze Motorie, Università di Verona, via Casorati 43, 37141, Verona, Italy

    P. Zamparo & C. Capelli

  2. Department of Physiology, NY University at Buffalo, 124 Sherman Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

    D. Pendergast

Authors
  1. P. Zamparo
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  2. C. Capelli
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  3. D. Pendergast
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Zamparo.

Additional information

Communicated by Susan Ward.

This article is published as part of the Special Issue dedicated to Pietro di Prampero, formerly Editor-in-Chief of EJAP.

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Zamparo, P., Capelli, C. & Pendergast, D. Energetics of swimming: a historical perspective. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 367–378 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1433-7

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