{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,2]],"date-time":"2025-10-02T00:38:45Z","timestamp":1759365525724,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759276800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Funds by FCT\u2014Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UI\/04045"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UI\/04045"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Sports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aimed to characterize and analyse the kinematic parameters and muscle activity of swimmers in open water swimming (OWS). Nine male swimmers (age: 25.4 \u00b1 11.9 years; body mass: 75.9 \u00b1 9.0 kg; height: 180.7 \u00b1 6.7 cm; and arm span: 185.6 \u00b1 10.3 cm) were evaluated in an open environment (lake), performing 5 m \u00d7 1000 m at maximum intensity, with a rest of 30 s every 1000 m. For kinematical analyses, the stroke rate (SR), swimming velocity (v), stroke length (SL), and stroke index (SI) were calculated. Surface EMG data were recorded in seven muscles\u2014upper trapezius (UP); latissimus dorsi (LD); pectoralis major (PM); posterior deltoid (PD); anterior deltoid (AD); triceps brachii (TB); and biceps brachii (BB)\u2014for the underwater and recovery phases of the stroke. SL (F = 3.41, p = 0.06, \u03b72 = 0.30) and SI (F = 3.29, p = 0.08, \u03b72 = 0.29) changed along the covered distances, and SR (F = 1.54, p = 0.24, \u03b72 = 0.16) increased, especially in the last 1000 m (32.5 \u00b1 3.0 cycles-min\u22121). AD was highly activated in recovery, showing statistical differences from the beginning (p \u2264 0.01) to the end of the race (p = 0.03). The TB muscle was mostly recruited in the underwater phase, from the start (p \u2264 0.01) to the finish (p = 0.03), showing a significant difference in each lap, with a large effect. LD showed significant differences in muscle activation, from 1000 m (p \u2264 0.01) with a huge effect, to 5000 m (p \u2264 0.01), with a large effect. These results suggested that the UT and AD muscles had higher activity in recovery than the underwater phase, and TB and LD were higher in the underwater phase.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/sports13100335","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T07:58:13Z","timestamp":1759305493000},"page":"335","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Open Water Swimming: Swimmers\u2019 Kinematical and Neuromuscular Characterisation in 5 km Swim"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8109-4875","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Concei\u00e7\u00e3o","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santar\u00e9m, 2040-413 Santar\u00e9m, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2351-3047","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniel","family":"Marinho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8058-4568","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan","family":"Stastny","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre of Sports Activities, Brno University of Technology, 616 69 Brno, Czech Republic"}]},{"given":"Carlos","family":"Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences of C\u00e1ceres, University of Extremadura, 1003 C\u00e1ceres, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7857-1677","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Freitas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santar\u00e9m, 2040-413 Santar\u00e9m, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-3405-9053","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Renato","family":"da Costa-Machado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santar\u00e9m, 2040-413 Santar\u00e9m, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5635-2476","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hugo","family":"Louro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport Sciences, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santar\u00e9m, 2040-413 Santar\u00e9m, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1275","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2017-0230","article-title":"Characteristics and Challenges of Open-Water Swimming Performance: A Review","volume":"12","author":"Baldassarre","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2005","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-020-04420-7","article-title":"5 km front crawl in pool and open water swimming: Breath-by-breath energy expenditure and kinematic analysis","volume":"120","author":"Zacca","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"520","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2014-0264","article-title":"Pacing and Mood Changes while Crossing the Adriatic Sea from Italy to Albania: A Case Study","volume":"10","author":"Cibelli","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2023-0190","article-title":"Thermal Sensation After the 10-km Open-Water Swimming in Cool Water Depends on the Skin\u2019s Thermal Sensitivity Rather Than Core Temperature","volume":"19","author":"Fujimoto","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e14702","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.14702","article-title":"Swimming Performance in Elite Triathletes: Comparison Between Open Water and Pool Conditions","volume":"34","author":"Gay","year":"2024","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1016\/j.humov.2016.07.009","article-title":"Do 5% changes around maximal lactate steady state lead to swimming biophysical modifications?","volume":"49","author":"Pelarigo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Hum. Mov. Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"694","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2017-0274","article-title":"Effect of the Pacing Strategies on the Open-Water 10-km World Swimming Championships Performances","volume":"13","author":"Rodriguez","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baldassarre, R., Pennacchi, M., La Torre, A., Bonifazi, M., and Piacentini, M.F. (2019). Do the Fastest Open-Water Swimmers have A Higher Speed in Middle- and Long-Distance Pool Swimming Events?. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol., 4.","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk4010015"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Puce, L., Chamari, K., Marinelli, L., Mori, L., Bove, M., Faelli, E., Fassone, M., Cotellessa, F., Bragazzi, N.L., and Trompetto, C. (2022). Muscle Fatigue and Swimming Efficiency in Behind and Lateral Drafting. Front. Physiol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2022.835766"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Puce, L., Biz, C., Ruaro, A., Mori, F., Bellofiore, A., Nicoletti, P., Bragazzi, N.L., and Ruggieri, P. (2023). Analysis of Kinematic and Muscular Fatigue in Long-Distance Swimmers. Life, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/life13112129"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1080\/10255842.2020.1718663","article-title":"Studying the effects of asymmetry on freestyle swimming using smoothed particle hydrodynamics","volume":"23","author":"Cohen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Comput. Methods Biomech. Biomed. Eng."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Figueiredo, P., Pendergast, D.R., Vilas-Boas, J.P., and Fernandes, R.J. (2013). Interplay of Biomechanical, Energetic, Coordinative, and Muscular Factors in a 200 m Front Crawl Swim. BioMed Res. Int., 2013.","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/897232"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2008-1025849","article-title":"Energy Expenditure During Front Crawl Swimming: Predicting Success in Middle-Distance Events","volume":"6","author":"Costill","year":"1985","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-019-04270-y","article-title":"The energy cost of swimming and its determinants","volume":"120","author":"Zamparo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1496","DOI":"10.1080\/14763141.2020.1810749","article-title":"Stability analysis and prediction of pacing in elite 1500 m freestyle male swimmers","volume":"22","author":"Morais","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sports Biomech."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"200","article-title":"Neuromuscular Fatigue during 200 M Breaststroke","volume":"13","author":"Silva","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"298","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bspc.2018.12.001","article-title":"Two-dimensional surface EMG: The effects of electrode size, interelectrode distance and image truncation","volume":"49","author":"Afsharipour","year":"2019","journal-title":"Biomed. Signal Process. Control"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1016\/S1050-6411(00)00027-4","article-title":"Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures","volume":"10","author":"Hermens","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Konrad, P. (2005). The ABC of EMG: A Practical Introduction to Kinesiological Electromyography, Noraxon Inc."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"278","article-title":"Relationships of stroke rate, distance per stroke, and velocity in competitive swimming","volume":"11","author":"Craig","year":"1979","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cohen, J. (2013). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203771587"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1186\/2046-7648-3-2","article-title":"Analysis of swimming performance in FINA World Cup long-distance open water races","volume":"3","author":"Zingg","year":"2014","journal-title":"Extrem. Physiol. Med."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.1249\/00005768-198512000-00001","article-title":"Velocity, stroke rate, and distance per stroke during elite swimming competition","volume":"17","author":"Craig","year":"1985","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Oliveira, T., Fernandes, R., and Vilas-Boas, J. (2018). Carateriza\u00e7\u00e3o Biof\u00edsica dos 5000 m Crol em \u00c1guas Abertas. [Master\u2019s Thesis, University of Porto]."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1080\/17461391.2011.630100","article-title":"Evaluation of mean power spectral frequency of EMG signal during 100 metre crawl","volume":"13","author":"Stirn","year":"2011","journal-title":"Eur. J. Sport Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.1177\/036354659101900603","article-title":"The normal shoulder during freestyle swimming: An electromyographic and cinematographic analysis of twelve muscles","volume":"19","author":"Pink","year":"1991","journal-title":"Am. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelekin.2014.12.003","article-title":"Electromyography in the four competitive swimming strokes: A systematic review","volume":"25","author":"Martens","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1016\/1050-6411(95)00008-N","article-title":"Cocontraction in the elbow and shoulder muscles during rapid cyclic movements in an aquatic environment","volume":"5","author":"Rouard","year":"1995","journal-title":"J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"820","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelekin.2013.02.004","article-title":"Phase-dependence of elbow muscle coactivation in front crawl swimming","volume":"23","author":"Lauer","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ptsp.2012.02.007","article-title":"The relationship between latissimus dorsi stiffness and altered scapular kinematics among asymptomatic collegiate swimmers","volume":"14","author":"Laudner","year":"2013","journal-title":"Phys. Ther. Sport"},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"172","article-title":"Shoulder Muscle Activity While Swimming in Different Wetsuits and Across Different Paces","volume":"16","author":"Lim","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Exerc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3417","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-012-2321-0","article-title":"Relationship between decreased swimming velocity and muscle activity during 200-m front crawl","volume":"112","author":"Ikuta","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1249\/JSR.0000000000000829","article-title":"Heat injury in open-water swimming: A narrative review","volume":"20","author":"Murphy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Sports Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fern\u00e1ndez-Galv\u00e1n, L.M., Alcain Sein, J., L\u00f3pez-Nuevo, C., S\u00e1nchez-Sierra, A., Ladri\u00e1n-Maestro, A., and S\u00e1nchez-Infante, J. (2025). Injury Patterns and Frequency in Swimming: A Systematic Review. Appl. Sci., 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/app15031643"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1007\/s12178-018-9485-0","article-title":"The Swimmer\u2019s Shoulder: Multi-directional Instability","volume":"11","author":"Rodeo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Rev. Musculoskelet. Med."}],"container-title":["Sports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4663\/13\/10\/335\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T08:18:14Z","timestamp":1759306694000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4663\/13\/10\/335"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}},"alternative-id":["sports13100335"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/sports13100335","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-4663"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-4663","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]]}}}