Effects of Dry Land Strength Training on Swimming Performance in the 50 M Freestyle Event in Young Girls

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of strength training on dry land upon the swimming performance. Eighteen girls, who train three times a week were selected and divided into two groups according to the best times recorded for the 50 m freestyle event: 64,8 sec. (+/- 3,301) sec. for the control group (S1 n = 10) and 68 sec. (+/- 4,10) sec. for the experiment group (S2 n = 8). Group S2 took part in specific training sessions in the water and on dry land as well. Group S1 took only part in training sessions in the water. The training sessions in the water approached a predominantly aerobe effort for the freestyle stroke. VO2 max. recorded a significant improvement both in the data comparison of S1 and S2 (p < 0.05), and when the two moments were compared, initial and final in the case of the experiment group. The relevance of the modifications occurred regarding VO2 max. is still unclear, as some studies suggest that a good management of body weight is more directly responsible for performance.