Barbosa, Tiago M.Lima, FranciscoPortela, AnaNovais, DanielMachado, LeandroColaço, PauloGonçalves, PedroFernandes, Ricardo J.Vilas-Boas, João Paulo2011-04-202011-04-202006Barbosa, Tiago M.; Lima, F.; Portela, A.; Novais, D.; Machado, L.; Colaço, P.; Gonçalves, P.; Fernandes, R.J.; Vilas-Boas, J.P. (2006). Relationships between energy cost, swimming velocity and speed fluctuation in competitive swimming strokes. Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto. ISSN 1645-0523. 6, p. 192-1941645-0523http://hdl.handle.net/10198/4128The purpose of the study was to analyse relationships between total energy expenditure (Etot), energy cost (EC), intra-cycle variation of the horizontal velocity of displacement of centre of mass (dv) and mean swimming velocity (v). 17 Portuguese elite swimmers (4 at Freestyle, 5 at Backstroke, 4 at Breaststroke and 4 at Butterfly) were submitted to an incremental set of nx200-m swims. Bioenergetical and biomechanical parameters presented significant interrelationships. For pooled data, the relationship between Etot and v was r=0.59 (p<0.01), between EC and dv was r=0.38 (p<0.01) and the polynomial relationship, between dv and v was r=0.17 (p=0.28). Individual evaluation and identification of biomechanical critical points may help the swimmers to become more efficient at a certain swimming velocity.engCompetitive strokesEnergy expenditureEnergy costSpeed fluctuationVelocityRelationships between energy cost, swimming velocity and speed fluctuation in competitive swimming strokesjournal article