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The swimming bench has been used as complementary training in swimming, however, there are no studies that analyze in three dimensions the specificity movement applied by this land-based swimming simulator. The aim of the study was to compare the stroke parameters of front-crawl swimming and swim-bench, as well as movement symmetry. Ten swimmers (16 ± 1.4 years) were filmed in a real swimming condition (50m) and a 30s swim bench stroke simulation using four GoPro Hero 4 cameras. Stroke dimensions, hand speed in the underwater phase and hip displacement were analyzed. Comparison between tests and sides symmetry was performed by two-way repeated measurements ANOVA and stroke rate between the tests was analyzed by Student's t-test. Swimmers showed a symmetrical characteristic in both conditions which indicates high body control and proficiency. The stroke dimensions differed between tests, mainly explained by the displacement limitation, trunk and hip rotation in the swim bench. The stroke rate and underwater hand speed pattern were similar (p> 0.05) and partially justify the use of this equipment as complementary land-based training, evaluation and control of the swimmers performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between contextual interference effect (CIE) and kinematic measures has been little investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the CIE on velocity and acceleration kinematic profiles of upper limb. Thirty-two subjects (23,7 ± 3,3 years) were assigned to groups of blocked practice (GPB) and random practice (GPA). The task consisted in achieve three targets in three specific sequences as quickly and accurately as possible. The study was designed in acquisition phase and transfer test. The variables of performance were reaction time, movement time and response time and the kinematic variables were peak of speed, relative time to peak of speed and number of peak acceleration points. The main findings showed that GPA showed lower movement time and response time than GPB. Regression analysis indicated that change in peak velocity during practice was associated to the change of the reaction time from practice to the transfer test. As peak velocity is a measure related to preprogramming, it is suggested that central control was essential to the CIE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]