PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate if tethered swimming (TS) performed 8 min before a 50-m freestyle swimming sprint could be an effective post-activation potentiation (PAP) method to improve performance. METHODS: Regional level male adolescent swimmers (age: 13.0±2.0 y; height: 161.1±12.4 cm; body mass: 52.5±9.5 kg) performed two trial conditions (1 experimental (TS), 1 control (CTR)) on different days. The control group performed a standardized 1200-m warm-up followed by 8 min of rest and a maximal 50 m freestyle swimming sprint. The experimental group performed the same protocol with an added TS component at the end of warm-up, which consisted of 3 x 10 s maximal effort of tethered swimming with 1 min rest in-between sprints. Performance (time-trial), selected biomechanical (stroke length), physiological (blood lactate concentrations, heart rate), psychophysiological (ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)) variables and Counter movement jump (CMJ) flight-time were collected.
RESULTS: Pre-performance tethered swimming had no effect on swimming time, RPE, stroke rate or CMJ flight time. Before the 50 m race, blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher in TS than in control condition (p=0.03, η2 = 0.62). One minute after the 50 m sprint, heart rate was significantly higher in the control condition compared to the TS (P =0.046, η2 = 0.27).
CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that 3 x 10 s tethered swimming performed 8 min prior to the event did not impact the 50 m sprint performance in young swimmers and may not be considered an effective PAP stimulus.