Physiological characteristics of well-trained synchronized swimmers in relation to performance scores

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the phys iological characteristics of synchronized swimmers and their performance sc ores. The subjects were 16 trained female synchronized swimmers with a mean age of 17.2 +/- 1.7 years (mean +/- SD). The examined variables were body dimensions (height, width, body mass, circumference of the body and segment length), body composition, isokinetic muscle strength of the elbow and kne e during extension and flexion, abdominal muscle endurance, anaerobic power (leg extension power and peak blood lactate concentration), aerobic power (maximum oxygen uptake [(V) over dot O-2 max], swimming velocity at the ons et of blood lactate accumulation [OBLA-V]), and flexibility (standing trunk flexion, prone trunk extension and distance between the open legs). The pe rformance scores had significant correlations (p < 0.05) with isokinetic mu scle strength of the elbow extension and flexion, and the knee extension, a bdominal muscle endurance, leg extension power, (V) over dot O(2)max wt(-1) , OBLA-V and distance between the open legs. However, no significant correl ations were found between the performance scores and anthropometric variabl es. This study showed that the performance scores of synchronized swimmers correlated significantly with the functional aspects, and that muscle stren gth, muscle endurance and aerobic capacity seem to be particularly importan t determinants.