Speed fluctuation as a determination factor of energy cost in butterfly stroke

Abstract

Although numerous papers around biomechanical or bioenergetic characteristics of different swimming techniques have been published, only a few approaches combine these two domains. Alves et al. (1996) explored the links between speed fluctuation and energy cost (EC) in front crawl and backstroke. Vilas-Boas (1996) made a similar study in breaststroke. In backstroke at low velocities and in breaststroke it was suggested that an increase in speed fluctuation would induce an increase of the EC (Alves et al., 1996; Vilas-Boas, 1996). While there are no scientific approaches between the speed fluctuation and the EC concerning the butterfly stroke, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the speed fluctuation of the centre of mass and the EC, in butterfly stroke.