2023, Vol. 10, Issue 2, Part F

Repeated sprint training is typically used in various sports, but there is little information on the intense reaction to this sort of training when combined with blood flow restriction in the arm region, and especially in swimming. This study aims to determine the impact of repeated sprint swim training with restricted arm muscle blood flow on muscular strength and hypertrophic responses in upper arm muscles for swimmers in pace of 50 m freestyle. Twenty swimmers were divided into two groups for the current investigation. These were five sets of eight maximum sprints done three days a week for six weeks. Strength (1-RM bench press and half-squat) and swim 50 meters performance measurements were tested before the beginning of the study and two days followed by the training programm period. The bench press upper maximal strength and the swimming performance variable showed a slight increase in the results (ES 0.2 to 0.5). and a significant improvement in maximum lower body strength (half-squat). In comparison, the CG group reported a small increase only in the 50m swimming performance (ES = 0.49), otherwise trivial effect size observed in other variables. In comparison, the t-test reported a significant difference between both groups (p < 0.05) after the repeated sprint training with blood flow restriction on the upper and lower body maximum strength. The study concluded that swimming athletes' muscular strength and aerobic performance may change if they combine repeated sprint training with BFR training while swimming short distances.