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

Abstract

The study aimed to compare three swimming conditions in a swimming flume with water at 26ºC (using swimsuit) and 18ºC (randomly with swimsuit and wetsuit). Seventeen swimmers (32.4±14.7 years old, 175.6±0.06cm height, and 70.4±9.8kg body mass) performed the three bouts until exhaustion at 400m front crawl pace (24h intervals). ANOVA repeated measures compared the experimental conditions. Swimming at 26ºC with swimsuit evidenced a higher metabolic demand (total energy expenditure; (E)), comparing to 18ºC swimsuit (p=0.05) and with 18ºC wetsuit (p=0.04). The 26ºC 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), VO2 amplitude (Ap), and stroke rate (SR), but lower stroke length (SL) and stroke index (SI) than 18ºC wetsuit. The 18ºC 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 18ºC does not induce physiologic and biomechanical disadvantages comparing to 26ºC, The results suggested that the use of wetsuit might increase performance at 18ºC water temperature for competitive master swimmers. Thus, its use is recommended in open water swimming competitions when the water temperature is 18-20ºC.