The object of study of the Swimming Research Center Amsterdam is (of course) competitive swimming!

What aspecs determine performance in swimming?
How does the swimmer adapt to training?
How is propulsion generated?
Can drag be influenced by technique?
What is the optimal training program?

Of course all these questions will be interesting for swimmers and coaches who like to excel in competition. From a different perspective these questions are also interesting for the human movement scientist who wants to understand the constraints, control and execution of human movement.

Swimming is often studied from a disciplinary perspective (e.g. biomechanics or exercise physiology). We believe that for a better understanding of swimming performance, we should use a multi-disciplinary approach. For example, swimming technique is strongly related to both the mechanical and the metabolic load swimming at a certain speed elicits. Rather than looking at any of these aspects separately, the major mission of the Swimming Research Center Amsterdam is to reveal the relationships between metabolic, morphological, mechanical and coordinative aspects of swimming.

A major goal of the research program is to gain a better understanding of the adaptive processes that occur in training (and in the short term as adaptation to 'fatigue' due to maximal exertion). With respect to training we like to relate training load (input) to the change in performance capacity (output). Understanding and using this knowledge to optimize these input-output relationships (on an individual level) is the goal of the program.

Some important performance factors are involved in all competitive swimming events. An analysis of these factors would be useful in designing training programs, taking into consideration whatever deficiencies there may be in the swimmers resources or capabilities.

Drag

The resistance encountered during swimming is a major performance factor. The hydrodynamic backgrounds of this velocity dependent force was investigated using the MAD system.

Propulsion

The generation of propulsion is equally relevant. Different theories are proposed to relate the kinematics of the propelling surfaces to the produced propulsive forces.

Propelling efficiency

A common characteristic of swimming propulsion is that, apart from the start and turns, it can not be generated by pushing-off from a fixed object. Therefore, a thorough analysis of the mechanics of the swimmers' body and of the surrounding water, involved in the generation of propulsion is necessary with special emphasis on fluid dynamics. It became clear that the mechanics (and especially the propulsion technique) of swimming is intimately tied to the energetics of swimming. And, thus, the link between the biomechanical and physiological bases of performance was studied and expressed in mechanical efficiency and propelling efficiency.

Effect of training

Recently, collaboration was started with TZA (Top Swimming Amsterdam). Among other things, we will try to assess training progress measuring performance factors. Every 6 to 8 weeks the maximal power output of the arms is determined using the MAD system. Next year ( 2003), the squad of TZA will start using the POP system for specific water based strength training.