butterfly is one of four competitive strokes in swimming...

Butterfly is one of four competitive strokes in swimming. Usually it is raced, in a 100 or

200 meter or yard event. However, it is also the lead off event in the individual medley,

meaning it is part of a longer event composed of all four competitive strokes, swam either

individually or as a team. It is often said that butterfly is the most difficult as you have to use

much of your upper body strength to pull yourself through the water. The stroke itself is

symmetrical; however, it also includes a roll through the body, which can sometimes become

more complicated. The pictures that I have included are of Michael Phelps, one the best

butterfliers in the world, swimming into the wall where he touched out his competitors.

The stroke begins in a streamline position (shoulder abduction) with both hands above

the head and the legs together. There is a small but noticeable amount of hip flexion at the

start of the first stroke. The shoulders then adduct, bringing both of the arms and hands down

with them. The shoulders pull through the water bringing the hands near the thighs. The trunk

is also contracting at this point to help pull through the water. Notice, in picture two, when the

arms are being pulled through the water to the thigh, the legs begin their kick. The knee flexes

with a small amount of hip flexion but both quickly extend out for the kick, creating the roll

effect. This is to help with the fluidity of the stroke and minimize the force put on the arms and

shoulders. Upon getting the hands to the thighs, the arms will then need to be thrown over the

water to the front of the head again. The head should always remain in the water, unless a

breath is necessary. The neck and head will be hyperextended when a breath is needed. It is

not recommended that a breath is taken every stroke as it can easily lead to hyperventilation.

As you can see, the ankles and feet are in a plantar flexion position the entire stroke. This

allows for a proper kicking motion. The pictures show the cycle of the stroke with the breath

included.

Butterfly has many different components and uses the body to its fullest. Those who

swim butterfly often tend to have much broader shoulders as well as strong leg muscles.

Shoulders (right and left)

Anterior Deltoid Muscle

Abduction Shoulder 120

Middle Deltoid Muscle


Posterior Deltoid Muscle


Supraspinatus Abduction Shoulder 120 Elbow (right

and left) Brachialis Flexion Elbow 30

Biceps Brachii Flexion Elbow 30 Brachioradialis Flexion Elbow 30 Pronator Teres Flexion Elbow 30

Wrists (Right and Left)

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Ulnar deviation Wrist 45

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

Ulnar Deviation Wrist 45

Fingers (Right and Left)

Dorsal interossei Abduction MCP 0

Abductor digiti minimi

Abduction MCP 0

Thumb (Right and Left)

Abductor Pollicis brevis

Abduction CMC 0

Abductor pollicis longus

Abduction CMC 0

Neck Splenius Capitis Hyperextension Vertebral Column

70

Splenius Cervicis Hyperextension Vertebral Column

70

Erector Spinae Hyperextension Vertebral Column

70

Transversospinalis Hyperextension Vertebral Column

70

interspinales Hyperextension Vertebral Column

70

Trunk and Back


30

Interspinales Hyperextension Vertebral Column

30


30


30

Hips (right and left)

Rectus Femoris Flexion Hip 45

Iliopsoas Flexion Hip 45

Picture 1

Pectineus Flexion Hip 45

Knees (right and left)

Rectus Femoris Extension Knee 0

Vastus Lateralis Extension Knee 0 Vastus Medialis Extension Knee 0 Vastus

Intermedialis Extension Knee 0

Ankles (right and Left)

Neutral

Feet (right and left)

Neutral

Body Part Muscle Action Joint Degrees/Position



Horizontal Adduction

Shoulder 45

Pectoralis Major (Both portions)

Horizontal Adduction

Shoulder 45

Teres Minor Horizontal Adduction

Shoulder 45

Elbows (right and left)

Brachialis Flexion Elbow 30

Biceps Brachii Flexion Elbow 30

Brachioradialis Flexion Elbow 30

Pronator Teres Flexion Elbow 30


Neutral




Abduction MCP 0



Abduction CMC 0


Abduction CMC 0


70


70


70


70


70

Trunk and Back Erector Spinae Hyperextension Vertebral Column

30


30


30


30

Hips (right and Gluteus Maximus Extension Hip 0

Picture 2

left)

Semimembranosus Extension Hip 0

Semitendinosus Extension Hip 0

Biceps Femoris Extension Hip 0


Semimembranosus Flexion Knee 75

Semitendinosis Flexion Knee 75

Both heads Biceps Femoris

Flexion Knee 75

Popliteus Flexion Knee 75

Gastrocnemius Flexion Knee 75


Gastrocnemius Plantar Flexion Ankle 15

Soleus Plantar Flexion Ankle 15

Plantaris Plantar Flexion Ankle 15

Tibialis Posterior Plantar Flexion Ankle 15

Flexor Hallucis Longus

Plantar Flexion Ankle 15

Flexor Digitorum Longus




Posterior Deltoid Hyperextension Shoulder 45

Latissimus Dorsi Hyperextension Shoulder 45


Neutral


Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Flexion Wrist 70

Flexor Carpi Radialis

Flexion Wrist 70

Palmaris Longus Flexion Wrist 70




Abduction MCP 0



Abduction CMC 0


Abduction CMC 0


70


70


70


70


70

Trunk and Back Erector Spinae Hyperextension Vertebral Column

30


30


30


30


Gluteus Maximus Extension Hip 0

Picture 3





Semimembranosus Flexion Knee 25

Semitendinosis Flexion Knee 25

Both heads Biceps Femoris

Flexion Knee 25

Popliteus Flexion Knee 25

Gastrocnemius Flexion Knee 25










Feet (Right and Left)

Neutral



Anterior Deltoid


Middle Deltoid Abduction Shoulder 120

Supraspinatus Abduction Shoulder 120

Elbows (Right and Left)

Neutral


Neutral


Dorsal interossei

Abduction MCP 0


Abduction MCP 0



Abduction CMC 0


Abduction CMC 0

Neck Splenius Capitis

Hyperextension Vertebral Column 70

Splenius Cervicis


Erector Spinae Hyperextension Vertebral Column 70

Transversospinalis


interspinales Hyperextension Vertebral Column 70

Trunk and Back Erector Spinae Extension Vertebral Column 0

Transversospinalis

Extension Vertebral Column 0

Interspinales Extension Vertebral Column 0


Gluteus Maximus

Extension Hip 0

Semimembranosus

Extension Hip 0

Semitendinosus

Extension Hip 0




Vastus Lateralis

Extension Knee 0

Picture 4

Vastus Medialis

Extension Knee 0

Vastus Intermedialis

Extension Knee 0





Tibialis Posterior




Flexor Digitorum

Longus






Middle Deltoid Muscle


Posterior Deltoid Muscle


Supraspinatus Abduction Shoulder 120


Neutral Elbow


Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extension Wrist 45

Extensor Carpi radialis brevis

Extension Wrist 45

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Extension Wrist 45




Abduction MCP 0



Abduction CMC 0


Abduction CMC 0


70


70


70


70


70

Trunk and Back Erector Spinae Extension Vertebral Column

0

Transversospinalis Extension Vertebral Column

0

Interspinales Extension Vertebral Column

0


Gluteus Maximus Extension Hip 0


Picture 5

"Guide." TalkSwimming. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.talkswimming.co.uk/guides/swimming_strokes.html>.

"Phelps' Miracle Finish - Phelps Frame-By-Frame - Photos - SI.com." Breaking News, Real-time

Scores and Daily Analysis from Sports Illustrated – SI.com. Web. 12 Dec. 2011.

<http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0808/oly.phelps.sequence

/content.5.html>.

"What Muscles Are Used Swimming The Butterfly Stroke? |

LIVESTRONG.COM."LIVESTRONG.COM - Lose Weight & Get Fit with Diet, Nutrition &

Fitness Tools | LIVESTRONG.COM. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.livestrong.com/article/79173-muscles-used-swimming-butterfly-stroke/>.





Vastus Lateralis Extension Knee 0

Vastus Medialis Extension Knee 0

Vastus Intermedialis Extension Knee 0










butterfly is one of four competitive strokes in swimming...

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