27th Annual Student Research Conference
Relationship of Anthropometric Characteristics to Force Output in Collegiate Sprint and Distance Swimmers
Nicole L. Kline
Dr. Jerry Mayhew and Prof. Jana Arabas, Faculty Mentors
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of anthropometric characteristics to force output in collegiate swimmers. Ten men and eleven women were measured for force output on a swim bench and anthropometric dimensions of hand length, arm length, sitting height, standing height, weight, and chest circumference. Holding gender constant, the only anthropometric variable significantly correlated with swim power was standing height. Sprint swimmers (n = 12) had significant correlations with swim bench power for sitting height (r = 0.83), and standing height (r = 0.88), while distance swimmers (n = 12) showed a trend towards a significant relationship for height (r = 0.53, p = 0.08). None of the other anthropometric dimensions were significantly related to swim bench power. Height may be the only anthropometric dimension that is related to a swimmers force output, and it may correlate higher in sprint swimmers than in distance swimmers.
Keywords: performance prediction, athletes
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 301-5
Location: MG 1000
Time: 2:00