- Sidestroke
The sidestroke is a swimming stroke, so named because the swimmer lies on one side. It is helpful as a lifesaving technique and is often used for long-distance
swimming . The sidestroke allows the swimmer great endurance. Instead of working botharm s and legs simultaneously in the same way, the side stroke uses them simultaneously but differently. A swimmer tired of exercising one side can just turn over and use the other, the change of action helping the limbs recover.To begin, the swimmer may lie on the right side, stretching the right arm out as far as possible away from the feet, keeping the
finger s of the righthand quite straight and the hand itself held edgewise, so as to cut the water like ashark 's fin. The left hand is placed across thechest , its back against the rightbreast .The legs make a scissor kick, in which the legs are held straight out, knees unbent, and swung back and forth in opposite directions (out of phase). The lower leg does the greater share of the work. Before its impetus is quite expended, the right arm comes round in a broad sweep, until the palm of the right hand almost touches the right
thigh . At the same moment, the left hand makes a similar sweep, but is carried backwards as far as it can go.This completes one cycle of the stroke, which is then repeated.
The hands act directly upon the water like
oar s, and do not waste any power by oblique action. In ordinary swimming on the right side the left arm moves gently in thewater , almost at rest. Then, after some time, the swimmer turns on the other side, and the left arm has its chance to work while the right idles.A modification of swimming on the side is the
Trudgen stroke. The side stroke is also called theIndia n stroke, because the Indians applied it to their swimming technique.
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