ABSTRACT
The influence of a 3-wk period of electrostimulation training on the strength of the latissimus dorsi and the performances of 14 competitive swimmers divided into 7 electrostimulated (EG) and 7 control swimmers (CG) was studied. The peak torque registered during the flexion-extension of the arm was determined with an isokinetic dynamometer at velocities from – 60 °s–1 to 360 °s–1. Performances were measured over a 25-m pull buoy and a 50-m freestyle swim. For EG, a significant increase of the peak torque was measured in isometric, eccentric and concentric conditions (P < 0.05). The swimming times declined significantly (P < 0.01) by 0.19 ± 0.14 s, for the 25-m pull-buoy, and by 0.38 ± 0.24 s, for the 50-m freestyle. For CG, no significant difference was found for any of the tests. For the whole group, the variations of the peak torques, measured in eccentric condition (–60 °s–1) were related to the variations of the performances (r = 0.77; P < 0.01). These results showed that an electrostimulation program of the latissimus dorsi increased the strength and performances of a group of competitive swimmers.
