REF-535 · Pelayo, Alberty, Sidney, Potdevin & Dekerle, 2007 · International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, Vol. · Paper
Aerobic Potential, Stroke Parameters & Coordination in Front-Crawl Performance
Key Findings
The review has three aims (abstract): (1) how aerobic potential is assessed in swimming and how exercise-intensity domains are established — the authors stress that domains must be accurately defined and their physiological underpinnings understood in order to design and evaluate training programmes; (2) how the traditionally measured stroke rate and stroke length change during exhaustive swims in relation to those intensity domains — introducing the concept of an "optimal swimming technique speed"; (3) the latest research on arm coordination as a way to understand swimmers' technical adaptations under physical stress
Swim speed = stroke rate × stroke length; during exhaustive swims stroke length tends to fall while stroke rate is maintained or rises (full text; not checked against the abstract)
The abstract carries no numbers: domain boundaries, thresholds and coordination indices are in the full text and are individual
Practical Application
Track stroke length as a marker of technique under fatigue: the review introduces an "optimal swimming technique speed" — the intensity up to which stroke parameters stay stable; when stroke length falls at a given speed, technique is breaking down (full text; not checked against the abstract) → slow down or shorten the set
Define swim zones physiologically (lactate / critical-swim-speed testing; REF-031 for testing methodology), as in cycling/running, rather than "by feel" — accurate definition of intensity domains is the review's first aim
Masters athlete: work on holding stroke length at speed before raising stroke rate. Not from this paper; the base's own practice.
Limitations
A narrative review; specific thresholds are individual
Front-crawl focus
The abstract carries no numbers; any quantitative claim about swim zones must come from the full text or from testing the athlete
How this entry was checked and changed
Content correction 2026-09-27
Sport line "running, swimming" -> "swimming" (the review is swimming-only)
Key findings restated to the three aims of the abstract; "stroke length falls under fatigue / elite swimmers maintain stroke length" labelled as full text
"Maintain stroke length before raising rate" labelled as the base's own practice