The Effects of Upper or Lower Limb Amputee Simulation on Front Crawl Swimming Performance: Preliminary Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of lower and upper limb restriction on the magnitude of the propulsive force in simulated amputee front crawl swimmers. Eleven healthy male swimmers ages 15-25years with simulated arm or leg amputation were participated in the study. Swimmers have been simulated amputees by restraining their single arms or legs. The swimmers were asked to swim at maximum speed for 10 seconds in three different conditions: normal front crawl swimming (N-FCS), arm amputee simulated front crawl swimming (ASA-FCS), leg amputee simulated front crawl swimming (LSA-FCS). Peak force, average peak force and average impulse values were examined using tethered swimming system. There were statistically significant differences in peak force, average peak force and average impulse values between N-FCS, arm amputee simulated FCS and leg amputee simulated FCS (p<0,05). When the arm amputee simulated FCS and leg amputee simulated FCS conditions were compared, statistically significant difference was found only in average impulse values (p<0,05). The negative effect of the arm or leg amputee simulation on propulsive force shows the disadvantage of amputee swimmers compared to their healthy peers in front crawl swimming. Arm amputee simulation decreased the average impulse more than leg amputee simulation. These results may support the decision of the International Paralympic Committee that single above elbow amputees and single thru knee amputees should compete in different swimming classes. Measuring swimming propulsive forces can be used as an objective method for classifying disabled athletes.

Keywords

• Ampute
• disabled athlete
• Paralympics
• swimming

Project Number

SAG-CDRP- 110.618.0310

Alt veya Üst Ekstremite Ampute Simulasyonunun Serbest Yüzme Performansı Üzerine Etkisi: Ön Çalışma

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, alt veya üst ekstremite ampute simulasyonunun serbest yüzme sırasında üretilen ilerletici kuvvete etkisinin incelenmesidir. Çalışmaya 15-25 yaş aralığında 11 sağlıklı yüzücü dahil edilmiştir. Yüzücülerin tek kolları veya tek bacakları bağlanarak ampute simulasyonu oluşturulmuştur. Yüzücülerden üç farklı yüzme koşulunda (normal serbest yüzme, kol ampute simulasyonuyla ve bacak ampute simulasyonuyla serbest yüzme) 10 saniye boyunca maksimum hızda yüzmeleri istenmiştir. İpe bağlı yüzme sistemiyle elde edilen zirve kuvvet, ortalama zirve kuvvet ve impuls değerleri incelenmiştir. Normal, kol amputasyonunun simule edildiği ve bacak amputasyonunun simule edildiği serbest yüzme sırasında oluşturulan zirve kuvvet, ortalama zirve kuvvet ve impuls değerleri karşılaştırıldığında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Kol ve bacak amputasyonun simule edildiği koşullar karşılaştırıldığında ise, sadece impuls değerlerinde anlamlı fark bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Kol veya bacak ampute simulasyonunun yüzme sırasında oluşturulan ilerletici kuvvet üzerinde negative etkisinin olması, ampute yüzücülerin sağlıklı akranlarına göre serbest yüzme sırasında dezavantajlı olduklarını göstermektedir. Kol ampute simulasyonuyla yüzme sırasında oluşturulan impuls bacak ampute simulasyonuyla oluşturulana göre daha fazla azaltmıştır. Bu sonuçlar, Uluslararası Paralimpik Komitenin tek dirsek üstü ampute ve tek diz seviyesi ampute olan yüzücülerin farklı yüzme sınıflarında yarışması gerektiği kararını desteklemektedir. Yüzme sırasında oluşturulan ilerletici kuvvetlerin ölçülmesi, engelli yüzücülerin yarışma sınıflamasının objektif olarak yapılabileceği bir yöntem olarak kullanılabilir.

Keywords

• Ampute
• engelli sporcu
• Paralimpik Oyunlar
• yüzme
• sınıflama

Project Number

SAG-CDRP- 110.618.0310

References

1. Deschodt, V. J., Arsac, L. M., & Rouard, A. H. (1999). Relative contribution of arms and legs in humans to propulsion in 25-m sprint front-crawl swimming. European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology, 80(3), 192-199.
2. Dyer, B. T., & Deans, S. A. (2017). Swimming with limb absence: A systematic review. Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Egineering, (4), 1-10.
3. Fujishita, H., Urabe, Y., Maeda, N., Komiya, M., Sakai, S., Hirata, K., ... & Kimura, H. (2018). Biomechanics of single-leg running using lofstrand crutches in amputee soccer. Journal of physical therapy science, 30(12), 1483-1487.
4. Goh, J. C. H., Toh, S. L., & Bose, K. (1986). Biomechanical study on axillary crutches during single-leg swingthrough gait. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 10(2), 89-95.
5. Gourgoulis, V., Boli, A., Aggeloussis, N., Toubekis, A., Antoniou, P., Kasimatis, P., ... & Mavromatis, G. (2014). The effect of leg kick on sprint front crawl swimming. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(3), 278-289.
6. International Paralympic Committee. (2007). IPC classification code and international standards. Keogh, J. W. (2011). Paralympic sport: an emerging area for research and consultancy in sports biomechanics. Sports Biomechanics, 10(3), 234-253.
7. Lecrivain, G., Payton, C., Slaouti, A., & Kennedy, I. (2010). Effect of body roll amplitude and arm rotation speed on propulsion of arm amputee swimmers. Journal of biomechanics, 43(6), 1111-1117.
8. Lecrivain, G., Slaouti, A., Payton, C., & Kennedy, I. (2008). Using reverse engineering and computational fluid dynamics to investigate a lower arm amputee swimmer’s performance. Journal of Biomechanics, 41(13), 2855-2859.

9. Lee, C. J., Sanders, R. H., & Payton, C. J. (2014). Changes in force production and stroke parameters of trained able-bodied and unilateral arm-amputee female swimmers during a 30 s tethered front-crawl swim. Journal of sports sciences, 32(18), 1704-1711.
10. Oh, Y. T., Burkett, B., Osborough, C., Formosa, D., & Payton, C. (2013). London 2012 Paralympic swimming: passive drag and the classification system. British journal of sports medicine, 47(13), 838-843.
11. Osborough, C. D., Payton, C. J., & Daly, D. J. (2010). Influence of swimming speed on inter-arm coordination in competitive unilateral arm amputee front crawl swimmers. Human movement science, 29(6), 921-931.
12. Sanders, R. H. (2013). How do asymmetries affect swimming performance? Journal of Swimming Research, 21(1).
13. Swaine, I. L., Hunter, A. M., Carlton, K. J., Wiles, J. D., & Coleman, D. (2010). Reproducibility of limb power outputs and cardiopulmonary responses to exercise using a novel swimming training machine. International journal of sports medicine, 31(12), 854-859.
14. Toussaint, H. M., & Beek, P. J. (1992). Biomechanics of competitive front crawl swimming. Sports medicine, 13(1), 8-24.
15. Tweedy, S. M., & Vanlandewijck, Y. C. (2011). International Paralympic Committee position stand—background and scientific principles of classification in Paralympic sport. British journal of sports medicine, 45(4), 259-269.
16. Wells, R. P. (1979). The kinematics and energy variations of swing-through crutch gait. Journal of biomechanics, 12(8), 579-585.
17. Wu, S. K., & Williams, T. (1999). Paralympic swimming performance, impairment, and the functional classification system. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 16(3), 251-270.