CASE REPORT  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2019 January;59(1):82-6

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08242-7

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Individualized dry-land intervention program for an elite Paralympic swimmer

Luca CAVAGGIONI ¹ ✉, Athos TRECROCI ¹, Massimiliano TOSIN ², F. Marcello IAIA ¹, Giampietro ALBERTI ¹

¹ Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; ² Italian Paralympic Swimming Federation, Rome, Italy

The aim of this retrospective case study is the longitudinal description of the physical and functional parameters of a top-level Paralympic swimmer class S9-SB8-SM9 during four swimming seasons of training, from the Paralympic games in London 2012 to the Paralympic games in Rio 2016. A 22-year-old male swimmer underwent a specific preventive dry-land training based on diaphragmatic breathing, postural alignment, and slow-velocity resistance training aimed to improve his muscle strength. He was tested by using the Functional Movement Screen™, photographic postural assessment and vertical jump. The swimmer improved his functional, postural and strength parameters indicating a better functional movement and muscular power. These results show that a four-year specific dry-land intervention could be capable of enhancing the functional and physical requirements of a top-level Paralympic swimmer. This approach might be a suitable novel alternative for coaches and athletic trainers to integrate their training protocols for athletes with similar impairments.

KEY WORDS: Disabled persons - Swimming - Respiration - Athlete - Athletic performance