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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(14): 1305-1312
DOI: 10.1055/a-1481-8473
Training & Testing

Swimming with Swimsuit and Wetsuit at Typical vs. Cold-water Temperatures (26 vs. 18 ℃)

Ana Gay 
1   Aquatics Lab. Department of Physical Education and Sports. Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Rodrigo Zacca 
2   Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
3   Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
4   Ministry of Education of Brazil, CAPES, Brasilia, Brazil
,
J. Arturo Abraldes
5   Research Group Movement, Science and Sport, Faculty of Sport Science, University of Murcia, Spain Add: ResearcherID: G-1635-201
,
Esther Morales-Ortíz
1   Aquatics Lab. Department of Physical Education and Sports. Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Gracia López-Contreras
1   Aquatics Lab. Department of Physical Education and Sports. Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Ricardo J. Fernandes 
2   Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
3   Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
,
Raúl Arellano 
1   Aquatics Lab. Department of Physical Education and Sports. Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors recognize the subjects and researchers efforts along the data collection. This study was supported by grants awarded by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (Spanish Agency of Research) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); PGC2018–102116-B-I00 “SWIM II: Specific Water Innovative Measurements: Applied to the performance improvement” and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport: FPU16/02629 grant. This article is a part of an international thesis belonging to the Program of PhD in Biomedicine (B11.56.1) from the University of Granada, Granada (Spain).
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Abstract

This study aimed to compare three swimming conditions in a swimming flume with water at 26 ℃ (using swimsuit) and 18 ℃ (randomly with swimsuit and wetsuit). Seventeen swimmers (32.4±14.7 years old, 175.6±0.06 cm height, and 70.4±9.8 kg body mass) performed three bouts until exhaustion at a 400-m front crawl pace (24 h intervals). ANOVA repeated measures compared the experimental conditions. Swimming at 26 ℃ with swimsuit evidenced a higher metabolic demand (total energy expenditure; (E)), comparing to 18 ℃ swimsuit (p=0.05) and with 18 ℃ wetsuit (p=0.04). The 26 ℃ swimsuit condition presented higher peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), blood lactate concentrations ([La-]peak), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), maximal heart rate (HRmax), anaerobic lactic energy (AnL), E, energy cost (C), V̇O2 amplitude (Ap), and stroke rate (SR), but lower stroke length (SL) and stroke index (SI) than 18 ℃ wetsuit. The 18 ℃ swimsuit condition (comparing to wetsuit) lead to higher V̇O2peak, [La-]peak, HRmax, E, C, Ap, and SR but lower SL and SI. Swimming at aerobic power intensity with swim and wetsuit at 18 ℃ does not induce physiologic and biomechanical disadvantages compared to 26 ℃. The results suggested that the use of wetsuit might increase performance at 18 ℃ water temperature for competitive master swimmers. Its use is thus recommended in open water swimming competitions when the water temperature is 18–20 ℃.

Key words

wetsuit - energetics - biomechanics - swimming flume - open water - neoprene


Publication History

Received: 20 January 2021

Accepted: 07 April 2021

Article published online:
21 May 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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