Progressive neuromuscular control improvement by using extrinsic feedback as learning tool, in swimming

Abstract

In this study, we started from the hypothesis that if we use the nautical sports simulator as learning mean and a tool to create visually extrinsic feedback, then we will be able to determine an effective change in the sensory-motor response at upper limb in order to improve progressive neuromuscular control. Using feedback as learning and optimizing mean of training is one of the desires of athletes training and, at the same time, an objective mean of raising the athlete’s awareness of the way in which he manifests his motor behaviour. The importance of implementing feedback in the training of athletes is also highlighted by the achievement of valuable results both in individual sports and in sports games. The ways that feedback can be implemented in the training varies according to the purpose, the specificity of the sport, the way of interpretation and the approach of its results. The purpose of this research was to improve de capacity of the progressive neuromuscular control at the upper limbs level, in swimming, using extrinsic feedback. The experimental approach was carried out within the research centre for human performance from University of Pitesti, Romania and had four junior as participants with 7–10 years experience in this sport, national medalists and champions. External feedback was provided using a nautical condition simulator that provided graphical trajectories specific to how they managed to control the level of force exerted on the palm. The training plan involved 15–20 minutes training for each swimmer with a frequency of two sessions per week for 3 weeks for each technical aspect of the research. The results reflected how each athlete managed to correct the sensory response according to the given stimulus. During the study, the swimmers expressed varied ways of adapting to the stimuli, having the greatest difficulties of neuromotor reorganisation especially in the transition to the last level of force increase. In conclusion, the approach confirmed that extrinsic feedback is an objective mean of sensory-motor learning and reorganization and, implicitly, an improvement tool of progressive neuromuscular control in swimming, the logistic actuators having a decisive role in achieving the purpose of the research.

Keywords: Motor learning, nautical simulator, sensory response, strength, swimming.