For most people, I would think swimming butterfly would be the most demanding stroke, raising the heart rate the highest. So, leaving that stroke out of this discussion, which stroke raises your heart rate the highest while working on DPS?
Saturday is recovery day for me, so I take Paul Smith's advice by aiming to keep my heart rate below 120. For my recovery swims, I have been swimming various 100's, resting for 20 seconds, on the advice of James Adams. I work on DPS and technique by doing various drills, as well as full stroke. After each 100, during the rest period, I take my pulse for 10 seconds and multiply x6, to determine my heart rate.
My normal resting heart rate is 50-54; it used to be 68 when I was a power walker/ gym rat, before returning to swimming. So, it has improved quite a bit. But, I have found it difficult to keep it down while swimming breaststroke (my best competitive stroke). And, I am curious if others have experienced the same thing.
While working on DPS and trying to keep a good propulsive phase and streamline for each of the strokes, this is my typical heart rate on a recovery day:
Freestyle- 17 (10 seconds)/ 102 (per minute)
Backstroke- 20/ 120
Breaststroke- 24/ 144 :afraid:
If I just work on my breaststroke pull (no pull buoy), I can keep my heart rate closer to 120, but it still gets to high. And, if I just work on my kick (no board, on stomach, arms out in front), I can keep it even lower. But, once I put the stroke together, fuhhhgetaboutit! (And, yes, I am exhaling fully on each stroke.)
So this is what I can't figure out: Why was breaststroke so easy when I swam back in high school and had a race time 11 seconds faster on my 100 than I do now? It seemed like I could swim breaststroke forever! At the time, it was freestyle that was so difficult and got my heart rate jumping. I hated it! But, now, it's breaststroke that is the more heart-racing stroke. (On both strokes, my technique is much better now than it was then.)
I will be curious to hear what others have experienced...
Many years ago I tried to train with a heart rate monitor and keep my heart rate below 120 while I worked out. I abandoned this after I was able to workout with a low heart rate but could not race as well. One thing I noticed was that my heart rate was highly dependent upon my thoughts. If I was swimming along with a 120 beats per second, and someone in a lane next to me started to pass me by - my heart rate would shoot up. If you are thinking a lot about your stroke or anticipating a hard kick or pull your heart rate will go higher. One swimmer who tried this experiment with me had an experience while he wore the heart rate monitor during the day just to see what would happen. He said that one time he was sitting at a red light with a very low heart rate, the light turned green and his heart rate shot up 100 beats over what it was before the light turned green! Another swimmer wanted to wear the monitor one time. She was standing on deck with a low heart rate, climbed into the pool using the ladder and got ready to push off for her warm up. Her heart rate was over 160 and she had not done anything. It was all due to her mind anticipating and getting ready to workout. I just thought you might be interested in this. I would guess that since you are a breaststroker, you think a lot about your technique while you are swimming.
Ganache, that was interesting!
I do not use a heart monitor; I just do a carotid artery check as soon as I hit the wall. I check my rate for 10 seconds, grab a quick sip of water, and off I go again; hardly enough time for my heart rate to react to mental thoughts and anticipation. If anything, my heart rate would probably go up the most anticipating backstroke, since it is my worst stroke.
I think it is more a physiological thing. In breaststroke, both arms are used simultaneously during the propulsive phase, whereas on the long axis strokes, one arm is in recovery and they alternate. The demand of both arms simultaneously makes the heart work harder; at least for me. And, on recovery, since I have a difficult time keeping my arms streamlined, I have to work hard to keep my elbows straight. So, I'm not exactly resting while I ride the glide! :censor:
Former Member
I've never counted or measured but I'm guessing my backstroke raises my heart rate the most. I'm primarily backstroke in competition so I add it a lot to workouts and concentrate on form, and I can't concentrate on form going slow and easy so I tend to keep it at a steady fast.
Former Member
I was testing a few things today while wearing my Polar HRM. I record my heart rate as a percentage of maximum heart rate (previously measured while in a pool). I did one of Betsy's 1 hr workouts intending recovery and technique. By distance it was 44% free (and drill), 30% back, 14% *** and 12% fly.
At the end I did three 25 sprints of each stroke. I want to re-do this again with better methodology, but I got these averages (take with a grain of salt):
fly = 90% MHR
back = 88% MHR
*** = 80% MHR
free = 86% MHR
My average across the entire workout was 75% MHR, and removing the brief sprint set it was ~71-72% MHR which was close to my intention.
(I hope this information is interesting to someone. I am going to rethink my methodology and try again using greater distances. If anyone can link me to relevant studies, it would be appreciated.)
As to ElaineK's questions, I don't know if I currently possess any competitive strokes (haha) but I used to race fly/back/free and only did *** as part of a medley. I have a good DPS, and actually I have been working on increasing my stroke rate. I don't know enough about breaststroke to have any comments about what might be causing your elevated heart rate. It is very possible there are environmental or psychological issues as others have said -- it can be as simple as you are especially dialed in on your best event.
It is very possible there are environmental or psychological issues as others have said -- it can be as simple as you are especially dialed in on your best event.
Hey Slow, thanks for your post! I have been testing my heart rate after 100's or 200's of just breaststroke pull and just breaststroke kick (without board, arms in front) and have found my heart rate is always less on kick when I give them both the same effort. My thinking is that I still have residual issues from my bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome. The left shoulder was operated on, however, I avoided surgery on the right side with successful physical therapy. But, I wouldn't say I am 100%; not by a long shot.
According to MayoClinic.com, thoracic outlet syndrome is defined as: "Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when the blood vessels or nerves in the thoracic outlet — the space between your collarbone and your first rib — become compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers."
In my case, it was a repetitive work-related injury and the blood vessels and nerves were involved- seriously. I could not lift my arms up over my head without my heart rate elevating substantially. And, I had no strength to keep them there. I even had to brush my teeth with my head bent over. Brushing my hair was next to impossible and I was unable to lift anything overhead. It was like having jello for arms, but with added pain.
My surgeon said I would be able to swim again, post-surgery, however, I am able to do way more than we ever thought. The reality is, I am very thankful I can just swim again; I shouldn't be complaining about how difficult breaststroke is for my heart rate! :blush:
Physiologically, the fact that I am using both my arms simultaneously in front of my shoulders is probably why my heart rate becomes more elevated than while swimming long access strokes.
My part-time coach had me narrow my pull to put less strain on my shoulders. But, gradually, as I have strengthened my shoulders through weight training, my arms have migrated to a wider pull. It wasn't really a conscious thing, but I noticed it recently on a video that was taken from a frontal view. So, my coach challenged me to keep my pull no wider than my body width and go for a faster pull, shooting my arms forward after a quicker insweep. And, the focus now is on putting more emphasis on the strength of my kick. It has helped! My heart rate is not climbing quite as high and I have more endurance.
Former Member
Elaine- 50-54 bpm is impressive. That means you're a true athlete. An average person with that heart rate would be considered bradycardic (heart beat too slow).
Heart rate is an interesting thing. It can be influenced in a quite a number of ways. This is just a suggestion, but have you ever considered your heart rate increase during your *** stroke could be related to your injury? If you're in pain, than thats an obvious reason for your HR to increase. On a more psychological side, the fear of injuring/re-injuring/subjecting yourself could be a factor.
I hate going to the doctor. They really stress me out. The last time I went my BP was 160/100 with a heart rate of 165bpm. My mom is a pediatrician. When I get my blood pressure checked at home or anywhere else other than a doctor's office my blood pressure is very low- 104/68, 62bpm. It's crazy.
