RELAÇÃO ENTRE PARÂMETROS DE CICLO GESTUAL E DESEMPENHO EM NADADORES MASTER DE DIFERENTES ESCALÕES ETÁRIOS.

The swimming performance declines with increasing age in both genders and different distances of swimming. However, studies with this population (over 25 years) are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between performance, stroke parameters and age in master swimmers. 22 male swimmers participated in the study divided into two groups on the same number (30-39 and 40-49 years). In a 25 m pool, each swimmer completed maximum 50 m with in water start in front crawl swimming. Performance in the 50, 25 and 15 m (T50, T25, T15) and stroke parameters were registered. There were no significant differences between the group of younger and older swimmers performance, distance per cycle and stroke frequency, although a tendency to adapt the stroke parameters to obtain a better performance was verified. Only stroke frequency proved correlated with T25 and T50 in the group 40-49 years old (respectively, r =0.64 and r =0.73, p<0.05). It is important for coaches and master swimmers to assume the importance of stoke parameters in practices at master level, factor that may condition success in swimming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]