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Purpose: The power push-up test can reveal significant differences in evaluating upper extremity strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the test–retest reliability of the parameters produced from the force platform of the power push-up test in young swimmers. Methods: A total of 35 swimmers (age: 15.8 ± 2.6 years) participated in this study. Flight time (FT), peak force (PF), mean force (MF), rate of force development (RFD), and impulse were analyzed from the force platform. Results: There was no difference between the two measurements for all parameters (p > 0.05). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV %) showed that some parameters from the force platform were highly reliable (ICC: RFD (0.94) FT, (0.96), PF (0.98), MF (0.97), impulse (0.97), CV%: RFD (50%), FT (20%), PF (17%), MF (18%), impulse (25%). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the parameters obtained from the power push-up test performed on the force platform are a reliable tool for swimmers and can be used by practitioners by carefully interpreting them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is known that swimming training can improve upper extremity performance, the force-time characteristics of the upper extremity during different training periods are not well understood. The objective of this study was to measure changes in the force-time characteristics of the upper extremity of young swimmers during different training periods within a season. Seventeen young swimmers, comprising 5 males (age: 15.4 ± 0.54 years); 12 females (16.4 ± 2.6 years) participated in this study. They were tested at four experimental test time points: baseline (E1), post-general preparation (E2), post-specific preparation (E3), and taper season (E4). The countermovement push-up test was performed using a force plate to measure force time parameters. Differences in force, time, velocity and impulse parameters were evaluated between the different periods. The study found that vertical take off velocity significantly increased across the assessed periods (F = 11.79; p =.001; η2 =.424), with significant increases from E1 to E2 (p <.001) and from E3 to E4 (p =.016). Flight Time also significantly increased across the assessed periods (F = 11.79; p =.001; η2 =.424), with significant increases from E1 to E2 (p <.001), from E1 to E4(p =.001), and from E3 to E4 (p =.005). The Force Impulse significantly increased throughout the assessed periods (F = 5.84; p =.012; η2 =.267), with significant increases from E1 to E2, (p =.006), from E1 to E3 (p =.016), and from E1 to E4 (p =.003). As this study shows, periods of increased training intensity can affect athletic progression, even though training aims to improve strength, speed, and performance. While some practical aspects such as strength, flight time, and impulse parameters may change during a macrocycle, the countermovement push-up test can provide trainers with an alternative and convenient way to monitor anaerobic force, speed, and performance, as well as measure explosive force-time performance in the upper body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]