Does Core and Endurance Training In Butterfly Stroke Swimmers Affect Heart Rate, Blood Oxygen, and Body Composition?
Keywords:
Body composition, butterfly swimming, core training, endurance training, swimming performanceAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week core and endurance training program on swimming performance, body composition, and selected physiological parameters in butterfly stroke swimmers aged 13–15 years. A total of 40 athletes who regularly participated in swimming training were included in the study, and the participants were divided into experimental (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. Within the scope of the study, swimming performance, body fat percentage, muscle mass, total body water, basal metabolic rate, resting heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂%) were evaluated using pre-test and post-test measurements. Data analysis included independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and simple linear regression analysis.The findings showed a significant improvement in swimming performance values, which represent performance levels, in the experimental group. Additionally, there was a decrease in body fat percentage, an increase in muscle mass, and improvements in SpO₂ levels. Significant improvements in swimming performance and SpO₂ values were also observed in the control group. However, comparison of change scores revealed no statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in performance, physiological characteristics, or body composition variables.Correlation and regression analyses revealed a strong relationship between performance changes and changes in total body water, with changes in total body water explaining a significant proportion of the variance in performance improvement. In conclusion, core and endurance training may contribute to performance development in young swimmers and may induce positive adaptations in certain physiological and anthropometric variables. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that swimming performance cannot be explained by a single variable; rather, it is a multidimensional structure influenced by technical ability, biological development, body composition, and physiological adaptations. Therefore, it is recommended that different performance components be considered through a holistic approach when evaluating performance and planning training programs for young swimmers.
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