ANÁLISE DO RESULTADO ESPORTIVO DE ATLETAS MÁSTER DE NATAÇÃO EM DIFERENTES DISTÂNCIAS DE NADO LIVRE

Abstract

In most of the sport activities, females and males are not mixed during competition, supporting a gender gap. This overview presents the causes and effects of a gender gap in swimming, following a biophysical approach. Biophysical combines biomechanics and bioenergetics. Firstly, the organismic constraints are investigated as possible causes of a gender gap in the forward body displacement. This part analysed how anthropometry, buoyancy, power and passive drag affects performance. Biomechanics also is concerned with propulsive force generation and resistive force reduction. Thus, the organismic constraints led to gender differences in propulsive forces, active drag and mechanical power output. Biomechanics is also linked to motor control. Therefore in this second part, the gender differences are analysed through the stroking parameters, the stroke phase organisation and the inter-limb coordination. Finally, mechanical body organisation and the motor control have a relative energy cost. Therefore, a third part concerns bioenergetics, comparing the energy cost of swimming and the swimming efficiency between males and females during competition and training. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.