Biomechanical Analysis of the Breaststroke Kick in Young Swimmers UsingWearable Inertial Sensors: An Exploratory Pilot Study

Abstract

Breaststroke performance is highly dependent on lower-limb biomechanics and the coordination of movement during the kick cycle. Recent advances in wearable inertial sensor technology enable objective analysis of human motion in real training environments. This study presents an exploratory pilot investigation aimed at evaluating the feasibility of using wearable inertial sensors for biomechanical analysis of the breaststroke kick in young swimmers. Five male children (aged 8–10 years) with basic breaststroke proficiency participated in a single-group pre–post exploratory study conducted over a three-month period. Lower-limb motion was monitored using wearable inertial measurement units attached bilaterally to the shanks and feet, allowing real-time kinematic feedback and data recording during training sessions. The intervention consisted of five structured training sessions integrating drill-based breaststroke kick exercises with sensor-assisted feedback. Outcome measures included time-based swimming performance tests (40 m breaststroke kick with kickboard and 40 m breaststroke without kickboard) and qualitative biomechanical evaluations of the passive and active phases of the breaststroke kick. Additionally, selected IMU-derived kinematic variables (peak ankle dorsiflexion and external foot rotation angles) were analyzed to provide quantitative biomechanical insight. Following the intervention, improvements were observed across all outcome measures, including reduced swimming times and increased technique scores assigned by two independent evaluators. These findings support the feasibility of integrating wearable IMUs for technique monitoring and simple kinematic quantification of breaststroke kick mechanics in young swimmers; larger controlled studies are required to assess efficacy.