Kinematic analysis of arm stroke rate in the final (10) m butterfly stroke

Abstract

Butterfly swimming has its own distinctive performance characteristics; therefore, it is influenced by specific proportions of hydrodynamic resistance and propulsive forces within the water. Due to the unique nature of the butterfly stroke, the importance of this study lies in conducting a kinematic analysis of the arm-stroke rate in 10-meter butterfly swimming. The research problem focuses on the time taken by the swimmer to cover a fixed distance of 10 meters, as kinematic variables contribute in varying proportions to either reducing or increasing this time. Among the most important of these variables are the kinematic variables related to the arm-stroke rate. The aim of the study was to identify the values of certain kinematic variables of the arm-stroke rate in butterfly swimming over a distance of 10 meters. The researchers concluded that the arm-stroke time of the fourth swimmer was shorter than that of the other swimmers, which consequently led to an increase in stroke speed. They also determined the percentage contribution of the two speed-related variables (stroke length and arm-stroke frequency) to performance in butterfly swimming: the contribution of stroke length to performance reached 91%, while the contribution of stroke frequency reached 86%, whereas the total method contribution reached 96.6%. Accordingly, the researchers recommended focusing on increasing arm-stroke length while maintaining an appropriate arm-stroke frequency, due to its significant role in increasing swimming speed within the research sample. They also recommended selecting swimmers with suitable anthropometric characteristics, particularly those with longer arm length, because of its role in increasing arm-stroke length, which in turn contributes to higher speed and better performance.