Position of arm and forearm, and elbow flexion during performance of the sculling technique: Technical recommendation versus actual performance

Sculling motion is a swimming technique executed in a vertical position with the head above the water's surface and, based on the technical recommendation, should be performed maintaining an elbow flexion angle of 90°, arms kept stationary while the forearms move. In order to verify if this recommendation is indeed realistic, the aim of this study was to describe the elbow flexion angle ant its angular velocity, linear speed and range of motion of the shoulder, elbow and wrist during the sculling motion. Data were calculated using three-dimensional kinematic process from underwater video images of ten athletes of synchronized swimming. The results indicate that the arm is relatively stationary and the forearm moves, which agrees with the technical recommendation. However, the elbow flexes and extends, which contradicts the technical recommendation. These findings should be considered when this action is practiced, especially in synchronized swimming, in which sculling motion is a fundamental technique.撑划动作（sculling motion）是一种以垂直姿态完成的游泳技术，要求头部露出水面；根据行业技术规范，该动作需维持肘关节屈曲角度为90°，上臂保持静止，仅前臂进行运动。为验证该技术规范是否具备实际可行性，本研究旨在描述撑划动作过程中的肘关节屈曲角度及其角速度、线速度，以及肩、肘、腕关节的活动范围。研究数据通过对10名花样游泳运动员的水下视频影像开展三维运动学分析计算获得。结果表明，上臂整体相对静止、前臂产生运动，这与前述技术规范相符；但肘关节出现屈伸活动，这与技术规范相悖。在练习该动作时，尤其是在撑划动作属于核心基础技术的花样游泳项目中，需充分参考本研究的相关发现。