The Effect of a Combat Swimming Training Program on Swimming Performance

Aim: To explore the effect of a combat swimming training program (CSTP), with and without equipment, on swimming performance. Material & Method: 45 male army officer cadets volunteered to participate in the study and were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (CG) and two experimental groups. The experimental groups participated in a 4-week combat swimming training program with equipment (CSTPE) or without equipment (CSTPS). Prior to and after the CSTP, all groups performed a 400-m and a 4 × 50-m swimming task, and the time to complete the task, peak blood lactate, and peak heart rate were measured. Results: The time to complete the 400-m and 4 × 50-m trials improved significantly only in the CSTPE group (490 ± 66 s pre and 463 ± 50 s post for 400 m; and 205 ± 28 s pre and 192 ± 19 s post for 4 × 50 m; p < 0.05), while the CG and CTSPS groups did not improve their time significantly in either trial. All groups presented similar peak lactate and peak heart rate values. Conclusions: The results suggest that only the CSTPE group improved swimming performance in both the 400-m and 4 × 50-m trials.