The Effect of Concurrent Resistance Training on Tethered Force, Lower Limbs Strength, Anaerobic Critical Velocity and Swimming Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Combining pool based + resistance workouts both in the pool and on dry land is a valuable ap-proach to enhance breaststroke swimming performance. However, few investigations have been conducted on this topic. Through a randomized controlled trial study, we investigated the effects of 10-week concurrent resistance training program, which integrates resistance workouts both in the pool and on dry land, on tethered force, lower limb strength, anaerobic critical velocity, and swimming performance in regional age-group breaststroke swimmers. Methods: Regional age-group swimmers (N = 24, males) were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (EG: 15.1 ± 0.5 years old) performed combined pool based + resistance workouts both in the pool and on dry land. The control group (CG: 15.1 ± 0.7 years old) performed their usual training, i.e. pool based + resistance workouts on dry land only. Tethered swimming force, muscular strength, anaerobic critical velocity, and swimming performance and technique were evaluated before and after 10 weeks. Results: Improvements were observed in EG vs. CG in mean force (30.04%, p = 0.02; d = 0.75), one-repetition maximum back squat (20.57%, p = 0.01; d = 2.05), maximal force (19.23%, p = 0.03; d = 0.69), and anaerobic critical velocity (4.2%, p = 0.04; d = 0.61). The 50 and 200-m breaststroke performance times improved (4.3 and5.4%, p=0.01, d=0.88-0.92, respectively) for 10 weeks. Conclusion: With the increasing demands of contempo-rary swimming competitions, which often include heats, semifinals, and finals, achieving optimal physical fitness to compete at an elite level in every round is vital for swimmers. The combination of resistance training workouts both in the pool and on dry land seems to enhance swimming performance in age-group swimmers, particularly at sprint to middle distance breaststroke swimmers.