Efficiency of movements requires an appropriate amount of joint mobility. Although our results
demonstrated that active and passive internal rotation and plantar flexion ROM were not correlated
with the dolphin kick velocity, a restriction of the plantar flexion and internal rotation flexibility
did however evoke a drop in performance. Therefore, we assume that swimmers with a limitation
deficit to plantar flexion or internal rotation may not be able to perform an accurate kick. In these
athletes, compensation strategies might occur at the knee as demonstrated in this study or a hip
inversion might occur as suggested by Maglischo (1993). Hence, we propose that swimmers with a
decreased plantar flexion or internal rotation flexibility, could benefit from ankle flexibility exercises,
which supports the vision of Maglischo (1993). Although we need to consider that excessive flexibility,
in the absence of adequate control, may also be detrimental to a swimmers’ performance