Effect of the leg combinations for kick start

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11505
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: Mie University (2021-2022); Aichi Gakuin University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: SUITO Hiroshi 三重大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (10513145)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 尾関 一将 大阪体育大学, 体育学部, 准教授 (90535113)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 競泳 / スタート姿勢 / 足の組み合わせ / 動作分析 / 筋力 / パワー / トレーニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the kick-start, swimmers put their right or left foot on the front edge of the starting block and the other foot on the back plate. This study investigated the effect of the position of the leg with greater muscle strength or muscle power on the kick-start performance of competitive swimmers. The start parameters (reaction and 15 m times and take-off velocity, take-off angle and flight-distance) were analyzed. For results, the take-off velocity and horizontal take-off velocity with the greter muscle strength leg position on front edge significantly higher than the those with the reversal of leg position. On the other hand, the resultant and horizontal take-off velocities did not differ significantly between the foot combinations, while 15 m time significantly faster, with the leg with greater muscle power on the front edge. Therefore, it can be suggested that arranging the leg with greater muscle strength or power in the front improves the kick-start performance.

Free Research Field

スポーツ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

競泳のキックスタートでは脚を前後に開いた状態でスタート姿勢を構えるものの，前後へ開く左右の脚配置について多くの選手が特に根拠なく決めている状況にある．本研究では左右脚の筋力，あるいはパワーを比較し，大きな筋力，あるいはパワーを持つ脚を前後に配置すべきか検討し，脚筋力，あるいはパワーが大きい脚を前方に配置することが望ましいことを示唆した．この研究成果は，競泳のキックスタートを指導する上での基礎的資料となるとともに，これまで不明確であった脚配置を決定するための有益な知見になるといえる．