Kinematic analysis of elite Portuguese swimmer with loco motor disability between Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and arm amputees – Review study

The aim of this study was to compare biophysical characteristics of Paralympic swimmers. This case study includes two swimmers with loco motor disability classes S9, according to functional classification by international Paralympic committee – IPC. These swimmers completed a 7 x 200m crawl stroke protocol with increasing speed 0.05 05m s-1 in each level and 30s interval. Interval speeds were based on 400m race speed. VO2 consumption was measured each 200 meter directly and continuously with a telemetric portable gas analyzer (K4 b2, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) connected to a respiratory snorkel (AquaTrainer Snorkel, Cosmed, Rome, Italy). The trails were recorded on 6 video cameras each 200m swim. If the swimmer reached the Lactate plateau before completing the seventh repetition, the test was stopped. Test showed that CMT swimmer achieved a lower oxygen consumption than amputee swimmer when they reach their max speed. Video analysis of 17 and 18 body segments helped us to define some stroke parameters. Results indicated that the right arm showed larger joint angle than left. Also, amputee swimmer had larger linear displacement. Swimmers performed active drag test 10 ± 1.3s, vertical 5.4 ± 1.4 horizontal floating time 6.5 ± 1.5 and glide distance 6.6 ± 0.5m. Keywords: biomechanics, front crawl swimming, loco-motor displacement