DRAG FORCE RELATED TO BODY DIMENSIONS IN FRONT CRAWL SWIMMING

Abstract

So far, a great deal of attention has been given to find out relationship between body dimensions (anthropometrical variables) and hydrodynamic resistance for actively swimming subjects. The development of a new indirect method for determining active drag (IMAD) warranted a reevaluation of this relationship, which was the aim of present study. Twenty one novice male swimmers with different body shape and experience ranging from 11 to 14 years and in mass from 35 to 70 kg have volunteered in this study. The variables were mass, height, upper limit length, arm, forearm, hand lengths, and torso, arm, and head circumferences. Very high and significant correlations were found between active drag and anthropometric variables. The drag force was ranging from 14.5 to 52.5 N. The results achieved from this study agreed well with the results obtained by other researchers using direct measurement systems.