Table 3 In-water warm-up including external load elements (n = 5)

Abbes et al. [79]

14 males (13.0 ± 2.0 y)

Regional, 520 ± 98 FINA points; 4 years (6 h/week), familiar with push-ups, squat jumps and burpees

i) 1,200-m in-water WU + 200 m freestyle at moderate pace

30 min

ii) i + 3 × 10-s tethered swimming using paddles (1 min rest in-between)

20 min + PAP + 10 min

The experimental protocol evoked a deterioration in 50-m front crawl performance in young swimmers

T50m: i) 32.48 ± 3.35 s; ii) 32,68 ± 3,68 s (d = 0.3); SL: i) 1,58 ± 0,53 m; ii) 1,57 ± 0,52 m; RPE: i) 8 ± 1; ii) 7 ± 1; [La-] PostWU: i) 1,78 ± 0,86 mM/L; ii) 2,92 ± 0,97; [La-]_1min: i) 6,8 ± 1,76 mM/L; ii) 6,55 ± 1,89; [La-]_3min: i) 6,91 ± 1,81 mM/L; ii) 6,75 ± 2,38 mM/L

Barbosa et al. [57]

5 males & 3 females

(18.4 ± 1.3 y)

Well-trained national competitive; experienced with in-water strength training

i) 1,000-m in-water WU

2.5 and 6.5 min (4 min after)

ii) 8 × 12.5-m maximal swimming efforts using hand paddles and parachute

2.5 and 6.5 min (4 min after)

The CA was detrimental. The weaker swimmers deteriorated performance more than the stronger ones

Peak force i: ~ 215 N; ii_2.5 min: ~ 200 N; ii_6.5 min: ~ 205 N (n² = 0.53); impulse: i: 76 N·s; ii_2.5 min: ~ 70 N·s; ii_6.5 min: ~ 70 N·s (n² = 0.72); The impulse level correlated with the pre-post changes in peak force (r = 0.76) and RFD (r = 0.76)

Cuenca-Fernández et al. [34]

20 males (18.0 ± 1.4 y)

Competitive; T50m 74.29 ± 7.89% WR (477 ± 163 FINA points) 1 national participation in the last year

i) 400 m in-water WU (2 × 100 m easy with 2 starts; 1 × 50 m front crawl swim (12,5 fast/12.5 smooth); 1 × 50 race-pace; 100 m easy) + 2 × 10 reps dynamic stretching protocol (forward leg swings, ankle-dorsi and plantar-flexion, side leg signs, high knees, heel flicks, squats and lunges)

6 min

ii) incremental semi-tethered resisted swimming test (10, 20 30 and 40% of the maximal power load)

6 min

Swimmers benefited from semi-tethered resisted swimming to develop high power and propulsive impulse in a 20 m freestyle effort, due to adaptive neuromuscular changes

Force: i: 42.95 ± 10.15 N; ii: 43.22 ± 10.13 N; impulse: i: 4.41 ± 1.54 N·s; ii: 4.48 ± 1.58 N·s; power: i: 49.98 ± 15.40 W; ii: 51.38 ± 14.93 W; RFD: i: 31.29 ± 13.70 N/s; ii: 31.79 ± 13.49 N/s; velocity: i: 1.17 ± 0.12 m/s; 1.21 ± 0.14 m/s; SR: i: 61.56 ± 7.07cyc/min; ii: 61.43 ± 7.27cyc/min; SL: i: 1.21 ± 0.15 m; ii: 1.23 ± 0.16 m; Distance in 5 strokes: i: 5.77 ± 0.72 m; ii: 1.23 ± 0.16 m; T5m: i: 4.23 ± 0.57 s; ii: 4.19 ± 0.56 s

Hancock et al. [59]

15 males (20.1 ± 1.0 y) 15 females (20.0 ± 0.9 y)

Varsity team; 7 had a sprint training background; 7 had a distance training background and 16 had a mix of sprint and distance training background

i) 900 m in-water WU (800 m freestyle swim proceeded by 4 × 25 sprints [40 s of work + recovery])

6 min

ii) i + 4 semi tethered resisted swimming sprints attached to a Power Rack (The individualized load was calculated and corrected by the body mass and the 100-m best time × 0.2 to bring the effort within a 7-s of duration [derived from the power rack])

6 min

Semi-tethered resisted swimming enhanced 100 m freestyle performance. There were no sex-regulated PAP responses

Males: T100m: i: 59.47 ± 2.56 s; ii: 59.05 ± 2.55 s; T50m: i: 27.89 ± 1.07 s; ii: 27.67 ± 1.18 s; T50-100 m: i: 31.59 ± 1.56; ii: 31.38 ± 1.52 s; Females: T100m: i: 67.42 ± 4.39 s; ii: 66.78 ± 3.80 s; T50m: i: 31.67 ± 1.98 s; ii: 31.36 ± 1.61 s; T50-100 m: i: 35.75 ± 2.46; ii: 35.42 ± 2.24 s;

La⁻: i: 11.5 mMol/L; ii: 12.3 mMol/L

Juarez et al. [83]

18 males (16.2 ± 3.8 y)

Competitive; 6 years of experience in swimming and 2 years in resistance training

i) 1,000 m in-water WU at low intensity, 100 m at higher intensity, and 100 m at low intensity

30 s

ii) 4 × (semi-tethered resisted sprint (12 m)—30% of maximal power load)

4 × 30 s

Semi-tethered resisted swimming did not improve performance in 25 m freestyle swimming. Analyzing the individual responses, high variability was observed, with participants decreasing/increasing their swimming times

Pre: i: 14.85 ± 1.72 s; ii: 14.55 ± 1.54 s; Post_1: i: 14.72 ± 1.61 s. ii: 14.44 ± 1.49 s (∆ = 0.75%); Post_2: i: 14.80 ± 1.68; ii: 14.49 ± 1.66 s (∆ = 0.41%); Post_3: i: 14.84 ± 1.72 s; ii: 14.35 ± 1.49 s (∆ = 1.37%); Post_4: i: 14.81 ± 1.60; 14.35 ± 1.52 s (∆ = 1.37%)