CIDESD-UBI - Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development
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The Research Centre in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD) is a cross-institutional technical and scientifically multi-disciplinary unity of applied and fundamental research hosted in Vila Real, in University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro.
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Browsing CIDESD-UBI - Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Sociais::Outras Ciências Sociais"
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- Strength & Conditioning and swimming performancePublication . Amaro, Nuno Miguel Pires Alves; Marinho, Daniel Almeida; Morouço, Pedro Gil FradeThe ability to apply force is crucial in competitive swimming, particularly in short distances. Accordingly, literature has shown that high values of upper-body strength and power are determinant to succeed in competitive swimming. Thus, dry-land Strength and Conditioning (S&C) is a common practice in swimming prescription in order to improve performance or prevent injuries. Nevertheless, research over the effects of S&C training in swimming performance is scarce and far from consensus. The main purpose of this thesis was to analyze the effect of S&C training programs on swimming performance in age group swimmers. Additionally, the reliability of tethered swimming evaluation with age group swimmers was verified, as a methodology to evaluate S&C training effects in swimming performance. For the accomplishment of these purposes the following sequence was used: (i) reviewing the available literature; (ii) examination of the reliability of tethered swimming evaluation; (iii) analyzing the effects of S&C programs in dry-land strength and swimming performance; (iv) proposing a practical S&C program to swimming prescription. The main conclusions drawn were: (i) there is limited research on S&C training effects in competitive swimming and the existent was mainly conducted with older and experienced swimmers; (ii) tethered swimming is a reliable test to evaluate force exerted in water by swimmers familiarized with the test; (iii) tethered swimming evaluations throughout the season may allow coaches to control swimmers’ ability to exert inwater force and evaluate the effects of S&C training programs, in age group swimmers; (iv) 6 weeks of a complementary S&C training allow improvements in dry-land strength, in age group swimmers; (v) a 4-week adaptation period is suggested to allow transferability of S&C improvements to swimming performance; (vi) explosiveness should be the goal of S&C training in order to allow swimming performance enhancement in short distance swimming, with age group swimmers. These findings can be used by coaches and researches as a starting point to future S&C training programs in age group swimmers.
- The assessment of a world-ranked wheelchair sprinter aerodynamics analysis by computer fluid dynamicsPublication . Forte, Pedro Miguel Gomes; Marinho, Daniel Almeida; Barbosa, Tiago Manuel Cabral dos SantosAerodynamics can play an important role in the performance of a wheelchair spinter. The aim of this thesis was to analyse the aerodynamics of a wheelchair sprinter by computer fluid dynamics. This thesis comprises a series of four studies (a review of the literature and three empirical studies). The studies aimed to: (i) review the literature on aerodynamics in wheelchair racing; (ii) compare two different helmets (road vs time trial) at several speeds and head positions by CFD. (iii) assess the aerodynamics in different key-moments of the stroke cycle by CFD; (iv) compare the mechanical power and energy cost of transportation delivered by an elite wheelchair sprinter in key-moments of the stroke cycle. The main conclusions were: (i) there is a lack of research on wheelchair racing aerodynamic’s assess by CFD; (ii) a time trial helmet imposed lower drag keeping a neck hyperextension; (iii) the aerodynamics of a wheelchair racing athlete varied over the different phases of the stroke cycle; (iv) the mechanical power and energy cost in elite wheelchair racing varied in different phases of the stroke cycle. The main conclusion of this thesis was that it is possible to enhance the aerodynamics of a wheelchair sprinter by selecting the best sport garement and equipment, as well as keeping a good body alignment in the key-phases of the stroke cycle.