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Swimming in warm water is ineffective in heat acclimation and is non‐ergogenic for swimmers
Author(s) -
Bradford C. D.,
Lucas S. J. E.,
Gerrard D. F.,
Cotter J. D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12351
Subject(s) - acclimatization , plasma volume , crossover study , thermoregulation , zoology , cycling , medicine , sweat , heart rate , time trial , chemistry , biology , ecology , blood pressure , history , alternative medicine , archaeology , pathology , placebo
Heat acclimation ( HA ) in air confers adaptations that improve exercise capabilities in hot and possibly temperate air. Swimmers may benefit from HA , yet immersion may constrain adaptation. Therefore, we examined whether warm‐water swimming constitutes effective HA . In a randomized‐crossover study, eight male swimmers swam 60 min/day on 7 days in 33 ° C ( HA ) or 28 ° C ( CON ) water. They performed 20‐min distance trials before and after each regime: in 33 ° C water ( W arm ); 28 ° C water ( T emperate ); and cycling in 29 ° C air ( T errestrial ) following standardized exercise. Rectal temperature ( T re ) rose ∼ 1 ° C in HA sessions, and sweat loss averaged 1.4 L /h. After accounting for CON , HA did not confer any clear expansion of plasma volume [1.9% (95% CI : 7.7)], reduction in heart rate during standardized cycling exercise [1 b/min (9)], reduction in T re during rest [+0.1 ° C (0.1)] or exercise, or change in sudomotor function. Only perceived temperature and discomfort tended to improve. Performance was clearly not improved for W arm [+0.3% (1.8)] or T emperate [+0.3% (1.9)], was unclear for T errestrial [+0.4% (17.7)], and was unrelated to changes in resting plasma volume ( r < 0.3). In conclusion, short‐term HA using swimming in 33 ° C water confers little adaptation and is not ergogenic for warm or temperate conditions.