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Propulsive efficiency of breaststroke and freestyle swimming

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Gymnastik-och idrottshögskolan, Sweden

    Ingvar Holmér

  2. Work Physiology Division, National Board of Occupational Safety and Health, Stockholm

    Ingvar Holmér

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  1. Ingvar Holmér
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Holmér, I. Propulsive efficiency of breaststroke and freestyle swimming. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 33, 95–103 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00449511

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00449511

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