I have been reading up on training and considering what I want to do for next season. During this, I came across this article reviewing several peer reviewed studies on the benefits of strength training endurance athletes including swimmers. Two interesting things were pointed out in this review.
Strength training for highly trained swimmers showed no benefit in swimming performance tests when compared to swimmers without the strength training.
Strength training for moderately trained (or less) athletes showed noticeable benefit.
I think most masters swimmers would consider themselves in category 2. If you consider yourself in category 1, that while there was no benefit shown for strength training, there was also no detriment shown. Based on this, if you have the time and the desire, there is no reason not to add strength training to your current program.
If anyone has read more current research (the referenced studies are 15-20 years old), or you have personal experience to share, please do.
Parents
Former Member
strength and conditioning benefits everyone.
dryland is becoming a bigger and bigger part of elite level conditioning in swimming. Furthermore, I would bet it would be hard to find a professional athlete who does not engage in strength training. Swimming is no different. Even endurance athletes benefit from strength training.
Max strength, power, balance, power endurance, strength endurance, etc. for fully functional athletic development.
If you are currently only swimming and want to make a jump in performance then do some strength training.
strength and conditioning benefits everyone.
dryland is becoming a bigger and bigger part of elite level conditioning in swimming. Furthermore, I would bet it would be hard to find a professional athlete who does not engage in strength training. Swimming is no different. Even endurance athletes benefit from strength training.
Max strength, power, balance, power endurance, strength endurance, etc. for fully functional athletic development.
If you are currently only swimming and want to make a jump in performance then do some strength training.
