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Passive drag in Para swimmers with physical impairments: Implications for evidence‐based classification in Para swimming
Author(s) -
Hogarth Luke,
Oh YimTaek,
Osborough Casey,
Osborough Conor,
Formosa Danielle,
Hunter Adam,
Alcock Alison,
Burkett Brendan,
Payton Carl
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.14014
Subject(s) - drag , front crawl , towing , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , marine engineering , physics , mechanics , engineering
The inherent hydrodynamic resistance force, or passive drag, of a swimmer directly influences how they move through the water. For swimmers with physical impairments, the strength of association between passive drag and swimming performance is unknown. Knowledge on this factor could improve the World Para Swimming classification process. This study established the relationship between passive drag and 100 m freestyle race performance in Para swimmers with physical impairments. Using a cross‐sectional study design, an electrical‐mechanical towing device was used to measure passive drag force in 132 international‐level Para swimmers. There was a strong, negative correlation between normalized passive drag force and 100 m freestyle race speed in the combined participant cohort (ρ = −0.77, p < 0.001). Type of physical impairment was found to affect the relationship between passive drag and 100 m freestyle race speed when included in linear regression ( R 2 = 0.65, χ 2 = 11.5, p = 0.025). These findings contribute to the body of evidence that passive drag can provide an objective assessment of activity limitation in Para swimmers with physical impairments. The effect of physical impairment type on the relationship between passive drag and swimming performance should be accounted for in Para swimming classification.