INTRODUCTION

Why is the catch phase of the front crawl stroke the most important part of the stroke? Based on the work of Toussaint et al. (1992), who studied the biomechanics and the propelling efficiency of the front crawl stroke, the whole stroke is two phases: a push and a pull. The pull (catch) begins the stroke and is measured from when the hand first enters the water in front of the head to when the elbow reaches a 90 degree angle. The pull is the driving force of the stroke and is consequently the most important part of swimming front crawl. Not only is the pull important for providing propulsion but if done improperly can lead to an injury called "swimmer's shoulder," described by Penny and Smith (1980).

The purpose of our study is to measure the effectiveness and quality of the Vasa Trainer as a cross training equipment apparatus. The Vasa Trainer is used on land to simulate the catch phase of the front crawl and is made of a bench that slides on a metal bar. The height can be adjusted to change the difficulty level as stretch cords and body weight providing resistance. To compare the upper extremity motions during Vasa Training and swimming, we looked at the shoulder and elbow joints when the swimmer was on the Vasa Trainer and in the water. Comparing joint motions will allow us to determine if the Vasa Trainer simulates the swimming motion enough to be a beneficial training substitute and supplement.