Applied Sciences (Sep 2024)

Limitations in Maximum Intensity Front Crawl in Swimmers with Down Syndrome

  • Giampiero Merati,
  • Damiano Formenti,
  • Claudio Gandola,
  • Paolo Castiglioni,
  • Linda Casalini,
  • Athos Trecroci,
  • Luca Cavaggioni,
  • Pietro Luigi Invernizzi,
  • Umberto Menichino,
  • Raffaele Scurati

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188387
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 18
p. 8387

Abstract

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Individuals with Down Syndrome exhibit deficits in muscle strength and cardiovascular adaptation, which limit athletic performance. We compared a maximum-intensity 50 m front crawl test between competitive male swimmers with Down Syndrome (SDS; n = 11; 26.5 ± 5.6 years; m ± SD) and a control group of swimmers (CNT; n = 11; 27.1 ± 4.0 years) with similar training routines (about 5 h/week). Wearable sternal sensors measured their heart rate and 3D accelerometry. The regularity index Sample Entropy (SampEn) was calculated using the X component of acceleration. The total times (SDS: 58.91 ± 13.68 s; CNT: 32.55 ± 3.70 s) and stroke counts (SDS: 66.1 ± 9.6; CNT: 51.4 ± 7.4) were significantly higher in the SDS group (p p 2 = 0.632, p < 0.01), but during the first 25 m only. The high-intensity front crawl performances differed between the SDS and CNT athletes in terms of time, biomechanics, and training adaptation, suggesting the need for tailored training to improve swimming efficiency in SDSs.

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