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The Journal of Experimental Biology 205, 2665-2676 (2002)
© 2002 The Company of Biologists Limited

How fins affect the economy and efficiency of human swimming

P. Zamparo^1,2,*, D. R. Pendergast³, B. Termin³ and A. E. Minetti²

¹ Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Universita' degli Studi di Udine, Italy
² Centre for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager, United Kingdom
³ Centre of Research and Education in Special Environments, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA

^* Author for correspondence at present address: Centre for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Hassall Road, Alsager, ST7 2HL, UK (e-mail: P.Zamparo{at}mmu.ac.uk — PZamparo{at}makek.dstb.uniud.it)

Accepted 8 June 2002

The aim of the present study was to quantify the improvements in the economy and efficiency of surface swimming brought about by the use of fins over a range of speeds (v) that could be sustained aerobically. At comparable speeds, the energy cost (C) when swimming with fins was about 40 % lower than when swimming without them; when compared at the same metabolic power, the decrease in C allowed an increase in v of about 0.2 ms^-1. Fins only slightly decrease the amplitude of the kick (by about 10 %) but cause a large reduction (about 40 %) in the kick frequency. The decrease in kick frequency leads to a parallel decrease of the internal work rate (_int, about 75 % at comparable speeds) and of the power wasted to impart kinetic energy to the water (_k, about 40 %). These two components of total power expenditure were calculated from video analysis (_int) and from measurements of Froude efficiency (_k). Froude efficiency (_F) was calculated by computing the speed of the bending waves moving along the body in a caudal direction (as proposed for the undulating movements of slender fish); _F was found to be 0.70 when swimming with fins and 0.61 when swimming without them. No difference in the power to overcome frictional forces (_d) was observed between the two conditions at comparable speeds. Mechanical efficiency [_tot/(Cv), where _tot=_k+_int+_d] was found to be about 10 % larger when swimming with fins, i.e. 0.13±0.02 with and 0.11±0.02 without fins (average for all subjects at comparable speeds).

Key words: energetics, biomechanics, swimming, fin, human, energy, balance

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