Force-velocity relationship and maximal anaerobic power during cranking exercise in young swimmers.

To study the effect of growth upon maximal anaerobic power of the upper and lower limbs, the maximal power developed during a cranking force-velocity test was correlated with the height of a vertical jump in different age groups of young swimmers. The youngest swimmers were significantly less powerful than the oldest. Differences in body size partly accounted for the differences in maximal power during cranking exercise (Wmax = 0.31 + 0.048 age; r = 0.526; P less than 0.01; where Wmax was expressed in W.kg BM-1 and age in months; n = 103). The effect of growth upon vertical jump is similar to the effect upon maximal cranking power: the lowest values were similar to those which concerned Wmax.kg-1. There was a very significant correlation between Wmax in cranking (in W.kg-1) and the height of the vertical jump (VJ in cm) (Wmax = 1.15 + 0.145 VJ; r = 0.728; n = 103, P less than 0.01).