Resumo. ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze how strength is measurement and its use occurs in studies of Latin American magazines with swimming athletes. The review followed PRISMA principles, carrying out the research in Scielo and Lilacs databases, adopting as inclusion criteria: a) studies with swimming athletes samples; b) studies that involved some evaluation of strength in athletes. A total of 87 articles were found, where 23 remained for complete analysis for suit all the criteria. Data analysis will be performed by metassumarization and content analysis. The results indicated the main measuring instrument to evaluate the strength was the dynamometer (isokinetic, isometric, and portable). Two main groups of subjects involved in the studies were identified, being these, the analysis of the strength for a better performance, and the analysis of imbalance muscular strength, especially in the shoulder. The intervention method was little used, demonstrating that the use of parachute during training and strength training outside the pool under an undulatory periodization are both effective in the athlete's performance. It is concluded that the main method of strength assessment in swimming is with the use of dynamometer, swimmers have a shoulder with muscular imbalance and there are few proposals for intervention to improve muscular strength in swimming athletes.