Swimming is more than just physical movement in water; it can be a survival tool, an art, a sport, or a challenge. Biomechanics is the study of movement, including swimming, which involves muscles, bones, connective tissue, and the nervous system. The biomechanics of swimming aims to understand and analyze swimming through experimental measures, such as analyzing video footage to identify flaws and improve performance.
Swimming could be described as the physical movement of movement in water, although it is so much more. Swimming can be a survival tool, an art, a sport or a real challenge. Biomechanics is the field of movement, which examines the movements of the human body as if it were a mechanical object. The biomechanics of swimming, therefore, is the study of the movements involved in swimming.
To understand the biomechanics of swimming, it is helpful to gain a basic understanding of the operational components of swimming and the procedures most biomechanics professionals use to analyze a movement. Movement comes down to muscles, bones, connective tissue and the nervous system that controls them. Basically, the nervous system dictates the movements that are performed by the contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. These movements occur through the traction of the muscles on the bones and all the structures involved are connected to tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues.
When a person swims in water, they follow a pattern of movement, using muscles specific to swimming. Not all types of strokes are created equal, but most use similar muscles. Among the many muscles involved in the biomechanics of swimming are the diaphragm, leg muscles, core muscles, and back and shoulder muscles.
The biomechanics of swimming attempts to summarize, understand and analyze swimming as a whole or even in its particular aspects. The method used to achieve this goal is no different from that of other scientific investigations. It usually starts with a problem or question and attempts to solve it through experimental measures.
For example, an Olympic swimmer has to get faster to get a medal in the next games. This individual may train harder than anyone else and be very physically gifted, but to maximize his potential, he must find a way to be more efficient in the water. The biomechanics of swimming could help solve this puzzle by gaining insight into that person’s movement.
Perhaps video could be shot and the footage analyzed to reveal a flaw in a wall breakthrough. Identifying this flaw could help the athlete become faster, leverage him or her to the top of the podium at the next Olympic Games. This is a practical way in which swimming biomechanics are important.
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