The influence of kineanthropometrical profile in deep-water tethered running
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abstract
Aquatic jogging is a variant of head-out aquatic
exercises characterised by the walking and/or running of
a subject in aquatic environment. The main goal of this
aquatic program is to promote an increase of physical
fitness, specially the cardiorespiratory component.
The purpose of this study was to identify the kineanthropometrical
parameters that best predict the maximal horizontal
propulsive force during deep-water tethered running.
21 young and healthy males with large experience in aquatic exercises (24.3+/-2.7 years old, 191.9+/-82.6 minutes physical
activity per week) performed 3 repetitions of maximal deep-water running for 10-s, using a flotation vest (Golfinho, H-906, Coimbra, Portugal). The subjects were connected to a strain gauge (Globus, Ergo Meter, Codigné, Italy) by a cable of steel with reduced elastic properties. The other
end of the cable was fasted to a rubber band and this to a swimming starting block. Dynamometrical data was exported
and processed with Matlab v. 6.0. It was evaluated the maximal propulsive force (Fx-max) and computed the
maximal horizontal propulsive force through a trigonometric
correction, as suggested by Taylor et al. (2003). Body mass
(SECA, 884, Hamburg, Germany), height (SECA, 242, Hamburg,
Germany), body mass index (BMI) and fat mass (BIA
101, RJL Systems, Florence, Italy) were also measured. Surface
area (SA) was calculated according to the procedure of
Du Bois and Du Bois (Shuter and Aslani, 2000). The forearms
(Globus, Ergo Meter, Codigné, Italy) and hands (TSD
121C, Biopac Systems, California, USA) maximal isometric
forces were also measured. Intra-cyclic variation of the
Fx-max presented a tetra-modal profile. Computing a stepby-
step regression equation, for prediction of the Fx-max,
the kineanthropometrical variables that entered the model
were the forearms maximal isometric force, the BMI, the
body mass and the SA (r^2=0.57, p=0.01). The purpose
of the study was achieved. Evidences revealed that some
kineanthropometrical parameters related to buoyancy force
(e.g., fat mass), to drag force (e.g., SA and height), to weight
force (e.g., body mass) and to propulsive force (e.g., segmental
forces) predicted the Fx-max. This means that, besides
physical fitness and technical level, often described in
the literature, kineanthropometrical characteristics of the runner
also affect significantly his performance during a training
session. The main conclusion is that tethered running is
significantly associated to kineanthropometrical profile of the
runner. So, instructors should pay attention to kineanthropometrical
characteristics of runners and how it affects their
performance.
