KINEMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LOWER EXTREMITY DURING 5OM BREATHHOLD OF FIN SWIMMING

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the kinematic Characteristic of the lower extremity as well as the mono-fin during short distance fin swimming in Chinese fin swimmers. Eight Chinese fin swimmers were asked to perform 50m while holding the breath at maximum effort for three trials. One cycle of fin swimming motion at midway was videotaped. Two-dimensional analysis methods were employed to analyse the movement of fin swimrning. The vertical velocity and vertical acceleration of the fin tail, average velocity oftotal body centre of mass (COM), angular velocity of the thigh, and angular velocity of the shank were calculated and normalised for one cycle of fin swimming. Results showed that the peak value of horizontal velocity of the total body COM occurred when the fin tail reached its maximum downward velocity.