Abstract

The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences hosts the XI International Symposium for Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming BMS2010 and presents present this Book of Proceedings. BMS XI is a reference work which covers the central advances in aquatic science since BMS 2006 in Porto. The International Symposium for Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming remains the most prestigious of all aquatic oriented scientific congresses in the world. It has also retained its’ high ideal of the classic peer review process, so essential to scientific progress. Every submission has had the benefit of expert creative critique. Eleven times now, we have presented cutting edge research in a variety of aquatic activities and sports. Each time the challenge has been to present the best possible overview of the most important developments in the four year period since the previous BMS symposium. The first symposium was held in Brussels in 1970 and it has now been held in ten different countries and on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, BMS has a unique place and a proud tradition. The series of eleven published BMS Proceedings has formed the backbone of literature in aquatic research for four decades. They are a collection of peer reviewed scientific papers commanding considerable respect and serving as a valuable resource for all who are interested in keeping up to date with aquatic research. Perhaps we should more properly be called a gathering of experts in aquatic human movement. Since the laws of nature are completely democratic, advances applied to one activity can also be applied to others. While the majority of papers lie within biomechanics, physiology and training, others are growing in popularity; sociology, education, psychology, anthropometry, epidemiology, drowning prevention, special needs swimming, learn to swim, life saving, etc. - all are represented. A systematic attempt to broaden the base of BMS characterized the Oslo meeting. Areas previously less well represented are present in larger numbers than ever before. There are really three principles here which are important. Firstly, the quality of the research is what counts, not the activity to which it is applied. Secondly, by including more academic disciplines and aquatic activities, a far greater degree of cross-fertilization of ideas is possible. To give an obvious example, the biomechanical techniques applied to analyze competitive swimming can also be used to analyze recreational swimming, learn to swim, water polo and life saving. And thirdly, multi-disciplinary research will grow. We know that this is where reality is best mirrored. The BMS Symposium 2010 includes 127 poster presentations, 125 oral presentations, three workshops and four poolside demonstrations. The 147 papers in this book are organized into 6 different chapters, reflecting each paper’s scientific discipline. Vorwort (gekürzt)