Effects of land, water and integrated amphibious resistance training on performance of young swimmers a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to (1) evaluate the comparative efficacy of aquatic, terrestrial, and combined resistance training on young swimmers’ performance and (2) examine the effects of these techniques on stroke length and frequency.Data Sources: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, and Sport Discus from inception to 2023 in English and Chinese.Study Selection: Included studies were randomized controlled trials involving adolescent swimmers with swimming-specific training experience. Experimental groups received aquatic, terrestrial, or combined resistance training, while controls underwent conventional training.Data Synthesis: Fourteen studies with 265 swimmers (regional to international level) were included. Ten were high quality, and four were medium quality per Cochrane standards. Resistance training significantly improved 50m crawl performance compared to conventional training [MD = -0.87s, 95% CI (-1.30, -0.44), P < 0.0001], with combined training showing the greatest effect [-1.11s, 95% CI (-1.80, -0.42), P = 0.002]. Stroke length [MD = 0.03m, P = 0.11] and stroke frequency [MD = 0.02 cycles/s, P = 0.11] showed no significant improvement. Resistance training configurations varied widely across studies.Conclusion: Resistance training, especially combined approaches, significantly enhances 50m crawl performance in young swimmers. Optimal regimens involve low volume, high intensity, and swim-specific loads, with minimal impact on stroke mechanics or efficiency.