Exploring the load–velocity profile with sprint swimming performance and sex differences JesúsJ. Ruiz-Navarro, Dennis-Peter Born, Adrián Febles-Castro, Ana Gay, Óscar López-Belmonte, et al. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 2025 This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the load–velocity profile and sprint swimming performance and kinematics, explore the inter-relationships of the load–velocity profile variables and blood lactate concentrations [La−] and dry-land strength (pull-ups), and examine sex-based differences. Twenty-seven swimmers (15 males: 19.2±3.7 y; 50 m front-crawl 550±70 World Aquatics points; 12 females: 17.7±2.4 y; 50 m front-crawl 552±63 World Aquatics points) underwent a 50 m front-crawl all-out swim test, a load–velocity profile test, and a pull-up test. Theoretical maximum velocity was associated with sprint swimming performance (r>0.863 and p<0.001), but not the theoretical maximum load (L 0) or the slope (p>0.05) for both sexes. An association between kinematics during the load–velocity profile test and free swimming was weakened as the load increased, with the correlation coefficient (r) decreasing from 0.929 to 0.403. Theoretical maximum velocity and theoretical maximum load were primarily associated with both sexes with the first (r>0.950 and p<0.001) and last (r>0.849 and p<0.001) semi-tethered trials, respectively. Only in females [La−] was associated with the theoretical maximum load and slope (r>0.573 and p<0.05). Males exhibited greater values than females in all the assessed variables (p<0.05) except for stroke rates and [La−]. The load–velocity profile is a valuable tool for assessing performance in both sexes. Kinematic parameters were related between semi-tethered and free swimming; however, association diminished with increasing load.
Detraining Effect on Sprint Swimming Performance and Load-Velocity Profile Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Óscar López-Belmonte, Adrián Febles-Castro, Ana Gay, Gracia López-Contreras, et al. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2025 Purpose: To assess the effect of 5-week training-cessation period on performance and load–velocity profile-related variables. Methods: Twenty-four competitive swimmers (15 male and 9 female: 19.2 [3.7] and 17.3 [2.3] y, 50-m front-crawl 550 [70], and 572 [51] World Aquatics points, respectively) performed a 50-m front-crawl all-out swim, a load–velocity profile, and a pull-up test before and after a 5-week off-season period. Kinematic variables, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion were monitored during the load–velocity profile tests. Results: Performance was impaired 1.3% for males (P < .01) and 3.8% for females (P < .01). Neither anthropometric changes (males r2 = .277, females r2 = .218, P > .05) nor the physical activity performed during the off-season (males r2 = .329, females r2 = .094, P > .05) attenuated performance impairments. While males counteracted the stroke-rate decline (P < .05) by increasing stroke length (P < .05) in the majority of the race, females did not, leading to a decline in clean swimming speed (P < .05). The maximum load at zero velocity decreased (P < .05) during the load–velocity profile test. In addition, males showed an increased blood lactate concentration (P < .05), whereas females decreased the maximum velocity at zero load (P < .01) and stroke rate (P < .01). No change in the slope was observed for either sex (P > .05). Conclusion: Following a 5-week off-season period, sprint swimming performance declines (males 0.34 s; females 1.15 s). The load–velocity profile and related variables evidenced deterioration, showing changes in blood lactate concentration, maximum load at zero velocity, average velocity during the third trial, and stroke rate.
Quantification of swimmers’ ability to apply force in the water: the potential role of two new variables during tethered swimming Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Jordan T. Andersen, Francisco Cuenca-Fernández, Gracia López-Contreras, Pedro G. Morouço, et al. Sports Biomechanics, 2024 This study aimed 1) to examine variables that may quantify the ability to apply force in the water and 2) to test their relationship with free swimming performance. Sixteen regional-level swimmers participated in this study. Average (Favg) and maximum (Fmax) forces were measured for 30 s arm stroke tethered swimming in a flume at zero and 1.389 m/s water flow speeds. The maximum and average force's relative changes (ΔFmax and ΔFavg, respectively) were calculated between tethered swimming at zero and 1.389 m/s water flow speeds. Free swimming speeds were obtained from 25, 50, and 100 m front crawl trials, and were correlated with ΔFmax and ΔFavg. A negative correlation was found between ΔFmax and 25, 50 and 100 m speeds (r = -0.84, r = -0.74, r = -0.55; p < 0.05, respectively) and ΔFavg correlated negatively with 25 and 50 m speeds (r = -0.63, r = -0.54; p < 0.05, respectively), but it did not correlate with 100 m swimming speed. The relative change in force could be used to quantify the ability to apply force in the water. This could aid coaches to understand if changes in swimmers' ability to apply force in the water contribute to improvements in performance.
Understanding the effects of training on underwater undulatory swimming performance and kinematics Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Marta Cano-Adamuz, Jordan T. Andersen, Francisco Cuenca-Fernández, Gracia López-Contreras, et al. Sports Biomechanics, 2024 In swimming, the underwater phase after the start and turn comprises gliding and dolphin kicking, with the latter also known as underwater undulatory swimming (UUS). Swimming performance is highly dependent on the underwater phase; therefore, understanding the training effects in UUS and underwater gliding can be critical for swimmers and coaches. Further, the development of technique in young swimmers can lead to exponential benefits in an athlete's career. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a training protocol on UUS and underwater gliding performance and kinematics in young swimmers. Seventeen age group swimmers (boys = 10, girls = 7) performed maximal UUS and underwater gliding efforts before and after a seven-week training protocol. Time to reach 10 m; intra-cyclic mean, peak, and minimum velocities; and gliding performance improved significantly after the training protocol. The UUS performance improvement was mostly produced by an improvement of the upbeat execution, together with a likely reduction of swimmers' hydrodynamic drag. Despite the changes in UUS and gliding, performance was also likely influenced by growth. The findings from this study highlight kinematic variables that can be used to understand and quantify changes in UUS and gliding performance.
Does jumping conducted before the swimming start elicit underwater enhancement? Jesús Juan Ruiz-Navarro, Francisco Cuenca-Fernández, Christopher Papic, Ana Gay, Esther Morales-Ortíz, et al. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 2023 The effects of pre-activation exercises on undulatory underwater swimming (UUS) have not been studied. This research aimed to: 1) assess the effects of a jumping-exercise strategy upon UUS performance and kinematics variables; 2) test the different effects on males and females, and; 3) to explore if stronger participants exhibit greater post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). Ninety-two age-group national level swimmers randomly assigned into control (17 males and 18 females) and experimental groups (27 males and 30 females) took part in a cross-sectional study designed to test two maximal 15-m UUS performance efforts. The experimental group performed four maximal tuck jumps before the first or the second UUS effort. Performance and kinematics variables were analyzed using instantaneous velocity data via speedometer. Maximal lower-limbs force was obtained during a countermovement jump through a linear-encoder. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA test and linear regression analysis were used to explore variable interactions between baseline and PAPE, and the association between the PAPE response and strength of the swimmers, respectively. Despite trends toward improvements in push-off velocity (Δ = 1.33%; d = 0.12), the results did not show enhancements nor deterioration in UUS performance and kinematics after the tuck jumps. No specific PAPE responses modulated by sex or by the strength level of the swimmers were observed for this age-group (p < 0.05). Four tuck jump repetitions executed prior to diving could be insufficient to acutely enhance UUS performance. The fact that the exercise performed during warm-up was a body-weight based exercise, was possibly not enough to evoke PAPE.
Lower fatigue and faster recovery of ultra-short race pace swimming training sessions Francisco Cuenca-Fernández, Daniel Boullosa, Jesús Juan Ruiz-Navarro, Ana Gay, Esther Morales-Ortíz, et al. Research in Sports Medicine, 2023 Ultra-short race-pace training (USRPT) is a high-intensity training modality used in swimming for the development of specific race-technique. However, there is little information about the fatigue associated to this modality. In a crossover design, acute responses of two volume-equated sessions (1000-m) were compared on 14 national swimmers: i) USRPT: 20×50-m; ii) RPT: 10×100-m. Both protocols followed an equivalent work-recovery ratio (1:1) based on individual 200-m race-pace. The swimming times and the arm-strokes count were monitored on each set and compared by mixed-models. Blood lactate [La-] and countermovement jump-height (CMJ) were compared within and between conditions 2 and 5 min after the protocols. The last bouts in RPT were 1.5–3% slower than the target pace, entailing an arm-strokes increase of ~0.22 for every second increase in swimming time. USRPT produced lower [La-] ([Mean ± standard deviation], 2 min: 8.2±2.4 [p = 0.021]; 5 min: 6.9±2.8 mM/L [p = 0.008]), than RPT (2 min: 10.9±2.3; 5 min: 9.9±2.4 mM/L). CMJ was lowered at min 2 after RPT (-11.09%) and USRPT (-5.89%), but returned to baseline in USRPT at min 5 of recovery (4.07%). In conclusion, lower fatigue and better recovery were achieved during USRPT compared to traditional high-volume set.
Biophysical Impact of 5-Week Training Cessation on Sprint Swimming Performance Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Ana Gay, Rodrigo Zacca, Francisco Cuenca-Fernández, Óscar López-Belmonte, et al. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2022 Purpose: To assess changes in swimming performance, anthropometrics, kinematics, energetics, and strength after 5-week training cessation. Methods: Twenty-one trained and highly trained swimmers (13 males: 17.4 [3.1] y; 50-m front crawl 463 [77] FINA points; 8 females: 16.7 [1.7] y; 50-m front crawl 535 [48] FINA points) performed a 50-m front-crawl all-out swim test, dryland and pool-based strength tests, and 10-, 15-, 20-, and 25-m front-crawl all-out efforts for anaerobic critical velocity assessment before and after a 5-week training cessation. Heart rate and oxygen uptake () were continuously measured before and after the 50-m swim test (off-kinetics). Results: Performance was impaired 1.9% (0.54 s) for males (P = .007, d = 0.91) and 2.9% (0.89 s) for females (P = .033, d = 0.93). Neither the anthropometrical changes (males: r2 = .516, P = .077; females: r2 = .096, P = .930) nor the physical activities that each participant performed during the off-season (males: r2 = .060, P = .900; females: r2 = .250, P = .734) attenuated performance impairments. Stroke rate and clean swimming speed decreased (P < .05), despite similar stroke length and stroke index (P > .05). Blood lactate concentrations remained similar (P > .05), but peak decreased in females (P = .04, d = 0.85). Both sexes showed higher heart rate before and after the 50-m swim test after 5 weeks (P < .05). Anaerobic metabolic power deterioration was only observed in males (P = .035, d = 0.65). Lower in-water force during tethered swimming at zero speed was observed in males (P = .033, d = 0.69). Regarding dryland strength, lower-body impairments were observed for males, while females showed upper-body impairments (P < .05). Conclusions: A 5-week training cessation yielded higher heart rate in the 50-m front crawl, anaerobic pathways, and dryland strength impairments. Coaches should find alternatives to minimize detraining effects during the off-season.
Are the 50 m Race Segments Changed From Heats to Finals at the 2021 European Swimming Championships? Raúl Arellano, Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Tiago M. Barbosa, Gracia López-Contreras, Esther Morales-Ortíz, et al. Frontiers in Physiology, 2022 This study explored in the 50 m races of the four swimming strokes the performance parameters and/or technical variables that determined the differences between swimmers who reach the finals and those who do not. A total of 322 performances retrieved from the 2021 Budapest European championships were the focus of this study. The results of the performances achieved during the finals compared to the heats showed that the best swimmers did not excel during the heats, as a significant progression of performance was observed in most of the strokes as the competition progressed. Specifically, combining men and women, the swimmers had in freestyle a mean coefficient of variation (CV) of ∼0.6%, with a mean range of performance improvement (∆%) of ∆ = ∼0.7%; in breaststroke a mean CV of ∼0.5% and ∆ = −0.2%; in backstroke a mean CV of ∼0.5% and ∆ = −0.6%, and; in butterfly a mean CV of ∼0.7% and ∆ = −0.9%. For all strokes, it was a reduction of the underwater phase with the aim of increasing its speed. However, this result was not always transferred to the final performance. In any case, most of the swimmers tried to make improvements from the start of the race up to 15 m. Furthermore, the swimmers generated an overall increase in stroke rate as the rounds progressed. However, a decrease in stroke length resulted and, this balance appeared to be of little benefit to performance.
Assessment of feedback devices for performance monitoring in master’s swimmers Laura Rodríguez-Gallego, Gracia López-Contreras, Gabriel Antonio Delgado García, Francisco Cuenca-Fernández International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 2022 In recent years, new portable performance monitoring devices have appeared in swimming. The study aims to establish the current validity of the FORM Goggles, Finis Stopwatch, and the Garmin Swim 2 Watch, for the partial and total times and stroke count (experiment 1; n = 17) and to compare the effect of the devices considered as valid in monitoring the pace of master swimmers (experiment 2; n = 10). The FORM Goggles and the Finis Stopwatch showed good level of agreement and accuracy (Bland Altman plots showed homoscedasticity and in most cases Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient were>0.95, and the error magnitude<0.2 seconds). These systems allow better pace control compared to Garmin Swim 2, with a difference between target and actual time below 1.5 %. However, the results showed that the concurrent feedback provided by FORM Smart Swim Goggles could offer greater advantages than the traditional feedback provided via the Finis Stopwatch at the end of each series, as swimmers were closer to the target time (p < 0.05). In conclusion both the FORM Goggles and the Finis Stopwatch, showed a good validity and could serve for performance monitoring in swimming, allowing the Form Goggles better pace control.
Beginning teacher mentoring program of the Faculty of Sport Science in the University of Granada Profesorado, 2012
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Correction: Exploring the load-velocity profile with sprint swimming performance and sex differences JJ Ruiz-Navarro, DP Born, A Febles-Castro, A Gay, Ó López-Belmonte, ... International journal of sports medicine 46 (8), e2 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Exploring the load–velocity profile with sprint swimming performance and sex differences JJ Ruiz-Navarro, DP Born, A Febles-Castro, A Gay, Ó López-Belmonte, ... International Journal of Sports Medicine 46 (08), 595-603 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
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Quantification of swimmers’ ability to apply force in the water: the potential role of two new variables during tethered swimming JJ Ruiz-Navarro, JT Andersen, F Cuenca-Fernández, G López-Contreras, ... Sports Biomechanics 23 (12), 2533-2545 , 2024 2024 Citations: 15
Understanding the effects of training on underwater undulatory swimming performance and kinematics JJ Ruiz-Navarro, M Cano-Adamuz, JT Andersen, F Cuenca-Fernández, ... Sports Biomechanics 23 (6), 772-787 , 2024 2024 Citations: 45
Estudio de la cinemática del movimiento y comparación termográfica de las extremidades superiores en nadadores con hombro doloroso y un grupo control. DN Santillana-Camargo, CV Mora, I Miguel-Andres, G López-Contreras, ... Res. Comput. Sci. 153 (4), 53-59 , 2024 2024
Does jumping conducted before the swimming start elicit underwater enhancement? JJ Ruiz-Navarro, F Cuenca-Fernandez, C Papic, A Gay, E Morales-Ortíz, ... International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 18 (2), 427-436 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Lower fatigue and faster recovery of ultra-short race pace swimming training sessions F Cuenca-Fernández, D Boullosa, JJ Ruiz-Navarro, A Gay, ... Research in sports medicine 31 (1), 21-34 , 2023 2023 Citations: 27
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Assessment of feedback devices for performance monitoring in master’s swimmers L Rodríguez-Gallego, G López-Contreras, GA Delgado García, ... International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport 22 (5), 701-714 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
Biophysical impact of 5-week training cessation on sprint swimming performance JJ Ruiz-Navarro, A Gay, R Zacca, F Cuenca-Fernández, ... International journal of sports physiology and performance 17 (10), 1463-1472 , 2022 2022 Citations: 20
Are the 50 m Race Segments Changed From Heats to Finals at the 2021 European Swimming Championships? Front. Physiol. 13: 797367. doi: 10.3389/fphys. 2022.797367 R Arellano, JJ Ruiz-Navarro, TM Barbosa, G López-Contreras, ... Frontiers in Physiology| www. frontiersin. org 13 , 2022 2022
Are the 50m Race Segments Changed From Heats to Finals at the 2021 European Swimming Championships? R Arellano Colomina, JJ Ruiz Navarro, G López Contreras, ... Frontiers , 2022 2022
Are the 50 m race segments changed from heats to finals at the 2021 European swimming championships? R Arellano, JJ Ruiz-Navarro, TM Barbosa, G López-Contreras, ... Frontiers in Physiology 13, 797367 , 2022 2022 Citations: 33
The relationship between tethered swimming, anaerobic critical velocity, dry-land strength, and swimming performance JJ Ruiz-Navarro, A Gay, F Cuenca-Fernandez, Ó López-Belmonte, ... International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport 22 (3), 407-421 , 2022 2022 Citations: 31
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Effect on swimming start performance of two types of activation protocols: lunge and YoYo squat F Cuenca-Fernández, G López-Contreras, R Arellano The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 29 (3), 647-655 , 2015 2015 Citations: 112
Eccentric flywheel post-activation potentiation influences swimming start performance kinetics F Cuenca-Fernández, G López-Contreras, L Mourão, K de Jesus, ... Journal of Sports Sciences 37 (4), 443-451 , 2019 2019 Citations: 71
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Physical activity by pregnant women and its influence on maternal and foetal parameters; a systematic review MJA Cordero, AMS López, RR Blanque, JPN Segovia, MDP Cano, ... Nutrición hospitalaria 30 (4), 719-726 , 2014 2014 Citations: 43
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Qualitative evaluation of technique in international Spanish junior and pre-junior swimmers: an analysis of error frequencies R Arellano, G Lopez-Contreras, JA Sanchez-Molina Biomechanics and medicine in swimming IX, 87-92 , 2003 2003 Citations: 28
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Post high intensity pull-over semi-tethered swimming potentiation in national competitive swimmers F Cuenca-Fernandez, N Batalha, J Ruiz-Navarro, E Morales-Ortiz, ... 2020 Citations: 26
Biophysical impact of 5-week training cessation on sprint swimming performance JJ Ruiz-Navarro, A Gay, R Zacca, F Cuenca-Fernández, ... International journal of sports physiology and performance 17 (10), 1463-1472 , 2022 2022 Citations: 20
Swimming with Swimsuit and Wetsuit at Typical vs. Cold-water Temperatures (26 vs. 18℃) A Gay, R Zacca, JA Abraldes, E Morales-Ortíz, G López-Contreras, ... International Journal of Sports Medicine 42 (14), 1305-1312 , 2021 2021 Citations: 20
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Quantification of swimmers’ ability to apply force in the water: the potential role of two new variables during tethered swimming JJ Ruiz-Navarro, JT Andersen, F Cuenca-Fernández, G López-Contreras, ... Sports Biomechanics 23 (12), 2533-2545 , 2024 2024 Citations: 15
Trabajo en el medio acuático en el proceso de enseñanza del niño autista PÁB Beato, NC Gutiérrez, GL Contreras Apunts Educación Física y Deportes, 25-31 , 2010 2010 Citations: 15
