Variability of coordination parameters at 400-m front crawl swimming pace

This study examined the variability of physiological, perceptual,stroke and coordination parameters in both genders during severalswim trials at the 400-m pace speed. twelve national levelcompetitors (6 men, 6 women) swam 400-m at maximal speed.they then swam three additional trials (100, 200 and 300-m) atthe pace (speed) of the previous 400-m. three cameras wereused to determine stroke cycle [speed (v), stroke length (sl),stroke rate (sr)] and coordination [index of coordination (idc),stroke phases] parameters. physiological [heart rate (hr) andlactate [la-] and perceptual [subjective workload (twl)] parameterswere assessed after each swim trial. inter-trial dataindicated that hr, [la-] and twl increased significantly withthe distance swum (p < 0.05). inter-trial comparison did notshow significant variation of stroke cycle and coordinationparameters. inter-lap data were examined within the 400-m andshowed that v and sl decreased significantly at the beginningof the trial (p < 0.05), but idc and sr remained unchanged (p >0.05). thus, despite changes in both physiological and perceptualresponses consecutive to increasing fatigue, coordinationparameters remained stable during an all-out 400-m freestyleswim. the examination of these parameters based on shortdistancetrials appears then to be valid, which offers interestingperspectives for swim testing.