A study in the June, 2010 issue of the on-line
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine looked at
strength and sprint swim speed differences in a group of 12-year old swimmers:
- Before beginning a combined strength and swim training program.
- After completion of 8-weeks of combined training.
- 6-weeks later, after only doing a swim training program.
The study's conclusions?
- The swimmers performing the combined program had positive changes in strength and swimming speed.
- The combined program was not clearly the reason why the swimmers improved their sprint swimming speed.
- There might be some positive relationship between strength training and sprint swimming speed.
- 6-weeks after stopping the combined program (but continuing the swim training program), swimmer's strength was still intact, and swimming performance continued to improve.
Read the study:
Does combined dry land strength and aerobic training inhibit performance of young competitive swimmers?
