McLeod Ian - Swimming Anatomy

Execution

1. Stand about 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 m) away from a partner.

2. With the medicine ball (5.5 to 11 lb, or 2.5 to 5 kg) at middle chest level, throw the ball by forcefully extending your elbows, targeting your partner’s chest.

3. Your partner should catch the ball with the arms just shy of full extension and decelerate it in a controlled manner.

Muscles Involved

Primary:Triceps brachii, pectoralis major

Secondary:Pectoralis minor, anterior deltoid, anconeus, wrist and finger flexors

Swimming Focus

One of the primary points of emphasis when performing medicine ball chest passes is that the throwing motion should be controlled but explosive in nature. This technique separates it from the other exercises, which are all performed in a slow and controlled manner. The explosive contraction helps develop power in the triceps. Additionally, the movements performed during the exercise are similar to those used during the open turns associated with butterfly and breaststroke. This exercise can be a great way to learn how to absorb and redirect momentum when performing open turns.

Tate Press

Execution

1. Lying flat on a bench, gently rest two dumbbells on your chest so that your palms are facing your feet and your elbows are pointing straight out from your chest.

2. While maintaining the upper-arm and elbow position, begin to straighten your arms, keeping the dumbbells in contact with each other.

3. At the halfway point, begin to rotate the dumbbells from their starting vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. Maintain the contact between the dumbbells for the entire time.

4. Continue pushing the dumbbells upward until your elbows are fully extended.

Muscles Involved

Primary:Triceps brachii

Secondary:Anconeus, wrist and finger flexors

Swimming Focus

The Tate press focuses on the lateral heads of the triceps brachii, making it a valuable exercise to include in a swimming dryland program.

One of the key components of this exercise is keeping the dumbbells in contact with each other during the entire exercise. To avoid potential injury, you must use an appropriate weight and avoid letting the dumbbells bounce off your chest when returning them to the starting position.

Barbell Biceps Curl

Execution

1. Grasp the bar using an underhand grip. Your hands should be spaced shoulder-width apart.

2. Without leaning back, curl the bar toward your chest in an arc until the bar is level with your shoulders.

3. Return the bar to its start position at arm’s length.

Muscles Involved

Primary:Biceps brachii

Secondary:Brachialis, forearm and finger flexors

Swimming Focus

Strengthening the biceps brachii and brachialis with this exercise will help with the initial catch component of the pull phase for backstroke. This exercise also enhances the second half of the pull phase during breaststroke. During these portions of the various strokes, maintaining the elbow in a flexed position is important. Loss of the flexed position by dropping the elbow during the freestyle catch, for example, leads to dramatic losses in power. The movements performed during this exercise also target the biceps brachii and brachialis in the same manner as they are utilized when performing flip turns.

An easy way to cheat when performing this exercise is to initiate a rocking motion with the upper body to generate extra momentum. You can minimize this tendency by performing the exercise with your back flat against a wall or by having a partner monitor your position.

Dumbbell Biceps Curl

Execution

1. Sit at the end of a bench. With your arms fully extended, grasp a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing inward.

2. One arm at a time, curl the dumbbell to your chest in an arc while at the same time slowly rotating your palm so that it faces your chest.

3. Alternate arms for each repetition.

Muscles Involved

Primary:Biceps brachii

Secondary:Anterior deltoid, brachialis, brachioradialis, supinator, forearm and finger flexors

Swimming Focus

The rotation of the palm inward (supination of the forearm) at the ending position places extra emphasis on the biceps brachii and mimics the final portion of the pull phase during breaststroke as you bring your palms in to the midline of your body.

Because it isolates one arm from the other, the dumbbell biceps curl overcomes a disadvantage of the barbell biceps curl. This exercise can be performed standing or sitting, but because of the alternating arm movements you should perform it seated to help maintain the upper torso in a fixed position.

VARIATION

Biceps Curl With Tubing

An exercise cord allows you to incorporate this exercise into a poolside dryland program. The initial tension placed on the cord should be light enough to allow you to complete the entire range of motion.

Concentration Curl

Execution

1. Seated at the end of a bench, separate your legs so that they form a V and lean forward slightly with your torso.

2. While holding a dumbbell and bracing your elbow against the middle of your thigh, curl the dumbbell in an arc toward your shoulder.

3. Slowly lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.