Swimmers; what’s the purpose of this stroke?

[Whyismycatanasshat]

I’ve just started swimming again, after a 9 month gap and the crowd at the late session has changed completely, much more serious!
Anyways, there’s a lady who does lengths and lengths of one stroke and I was wondering if it was a training stroke or something else!

She is in backstroke position; body totally straight, she looks like she’s holding herself completely rigid; tensed abs etc right down to pointed toes - whilst she does skulling arms at the sides.

So, yes, why? What’s the purpose?
I’d ask her but I assume she does many more lengths than me so I’m out of the pool and gone before she is!

Maybe she's toning her arms. Does she not move legs at all?

Maybe she has an injury or disability which means she can only swim that way. Like me - arthritis of the hip, which means my legs don't work without pain.

Different strokes for different folks

I do that sometimes if the water's cold - it's a good way to warm up. Probably good if you have shoulder problems. Or if you want to work on being more streamlined - Total Immersion has drills like this.

She doesn’t move her legs at all no; I have seen her do other strokes and tumble turns but more often than not it’s this sculling stroke.

I know, I’m nosey!
But if this is a stroke that would help tone my ruined post baby abs; I’d be doing it too!!

Shes working on her arms it's called sculling. By changing how you move you're arms you can Scull forward and backwards using your palms in the figure of 8.

I like to do different strokes while I swim to use different muscles and stop me getting board. Sculling is a very difficult stroke and I enjoy it.