Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review
Abstract Background Backstroke swimming is one of the four competitive strokes contested at international swimming events, and the second-slowest stroke after breaststroke. Achieving success in competition depends on the intricate interplay of various factors, and for top-ranked athletes, subtle dif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Sports Medicine - Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00868-z |
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| author | José M. González-Ravé Fernando González-Mohino Francisco Hermosilla Perona Victor Rodrigo-Carranza Inmaculada Yustres David B. Pyne |
| author_facet | José M. González-Ravé Fernando González-Mohino Francisco Hermosilla Perona Victor Rodrigo-Carranza Inmaculada Yustres David B. Pyne |
| author_sort | José M. González-Ravé |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Backstroke swimming is one of the four competitive strokes contested at international swimming events, and the second-slowest stroke after breaststroke. Achieving success in competition depends on the intricate interplay of various factors, and for top-ranked athletes, subtle differences can be decisive in determining the race outcome. The aim of this study is to identify the main energetic, biomechanical, and physiological factors influencing elite backstroke swimming performance in 50, 100, and 200-m events. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify relevant studies. A literature search on 3 databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was finalised on September 26, 2024. Results A total of 938 studies were identified, and finally 35 studies met the inclusion criteria. The swimmers (n = 507 participants, n = 188 women) were classified as Tier 3 (Highly Trained/National Level) or Tier 4 (International Level). Studies included exhibited a low risk of bias following the Hindle scale (11 ± 2 points). All the studies were observational. Reference values have been provided with normative blood lactate, kinematics, race pace, performance testing and anthropometric characteristics for comparison purposes in 50, 100, and 200-m events. Post-race blood lactate concentrations were lower in the 50 m compared to the 100 m and 200 m events. Differences were evident in stroke rate (SR) reference ranges between events (50 m, 100 m, 200 m), anthropometric profiles (swimmers’ height and hand, foot, and leg length), and pacing profiles (50 m: all-out trend; 100 m: positive profile; 200 m: parabolic approach or fast-track strategy). Conclusions There is a distinctive physiological and biomechanical pattern for distances from 50-m to 200-m in backstroke swimming. The data provide athletes and coaches with normative reference values for blood lactate, kinematics, race pace, and anthropometric measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-588e8e2acbd842bba512d87d3ec7cc63 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2198-9761 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports Medicine - Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-588e8e2acbd842bba512d87d3ec7cc632025-08-20T02:30:41ZengSpringerOpenSports Medicine - Open2198-97612025-06-0111112010.1186/s40798-025-00868-zBiomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic ReviewJosé M. González-Ravé0Fernando González-Mohino1Francisco Hermosilla Perona2Victor Rodrigo-Carranza3Inmaculada Yustres4David B. Pyne5Sport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La ManchaSport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La ManchaSport Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla-La ManchaFootwear Innovation ProductionUniversidad Francisco de VitoriaResearch Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of CanberraAbstract Background Backstroke swimming is one of the four competitive strokes contested at international swimming events, and the second-slowest stroke after breaststroke. Achieving success in competition depends on the intricate interplay of various factors, and for top-ranked athletes, subtle differences can be decisive in determining the race outcome. The aim of this study is to identify the main energetic, biomechanical, and physiological factors influencing elite backstroke swimming performance in 50, 100, and 200-m events. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify relevant studies. A literature search on 3 databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was finalised on September 26, 2024. Results A total of 938 studies were identified, and finally 35 studies met the inclusion criteria. The swimmers (n = 507 participants, n = 188 women) were classified as Tier 3 (Highly Trained/National Level) or Tier 4 (International Level). Studies included exhibited a low risk of bias following the Hindle scale (11 ± 2 points). All the studies were observational. Reference values have been provided with normative blood lactate, kinematics, race pace, performance testing and anthropometric characteristics for comparison purposes in 50, 100, and 200-m events. Post-race blood lactate concentrations were lower in the 50 m compared to the 100 m and 200 m events. Differences were evident in stroke rate (SR) reference ranges between events (50 m, 100 m, 200 m), anthropometric profiles (swimmers’ height and hand, foot, and leg length), and pacing profiles (50 m: all-out trend; 100 m: positive profile; 200 m: parabolic approach or fast-track strategy). Conclusions There is a distinctive physiological and biomechanical pattern for distances from 50-m to 200-m in backstroke swimming. The data provide athletes and coaches with normative reference values for blood lactate, kinematics, race pace, and anthropometric measures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00868-zSwimmersTrainingBackstrokePerformance |
| spellingShingle | José M. González-Ravé Fernando González-Mohino Francisco Hermosilla Perona Victor Rodrigo-Carranza Inmaculada Yustres David B. Pyne Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review Sports Medicine - Open Swimmers Training Backstroke Performance |
| title | Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Biomechanical, Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Backstroke Swimming Performance: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | biomechanical physiological and anthropometric determinants of backstroke swimming performance a systematic review |
| topic | Swimmers Training Backstroke Performance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00868-z |
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