Maximal strength training effects on dry-land force-velocity characteristics, swimming load-velocity profiles and drag parameters

This study examined the impact of dry-land maximal strength training on dry-land and swimming performance parameters in 18 regional-level swimmers assigned to either a control group (CG) or an experimental group (EG). Over 6 weeks, the CG trained exclusively in swimming while the EG completed maximal strength training on the bench press (BPr) and lat pulldown (LP) twice weekly for 5 weeks, followed by 1 week of swimming-only training. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations included dry-land force-velocity (F-V) profiling for BPr and LP, and in-water front crawl load-velocity (L-V) profiling including active drag estimation. The ANCOVA, using pre-intervention values as covariates revealed significant group effects only for the BPr F-V slope (F = 5.47; p = 0.036; η2p = 0.296). The results did not show any significant group effects of the intervention on in-water parameters. No group * sex interaction was found, indicating comparable responses in men and women. The concurrent dry-land and in-water profiling revealed that a force-oriented shift in the dry-land F-V profile (BPr slope) was not accompanied by changes in swimming velocity, load or drag, showing that such adaptations cannot be assumed to transfer within this 6-week timeframe and must be assessed directly in the water.