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The effect of passive heat maintenance on elite swimming performance. / Natalie Williams

Swansea University Author: Natalie Williams

Abstract

The effect of passive heat maintenance on elite swimming performance The pre-event warm-up (WU) is a well-estabhshed pre-competition routine, acting as a means to prime the body for subsequent performance. Previous Hterature has demonstrated the beneficial effect it can have, highlighted by a recent...

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Published: 2012
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Philosophy
Degree name: M.Phil
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42419
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Abstract: The effect of passive heat maintenance on elite swimming performance The pre-event warm-up (WU) is a well-estabhshed pre-competition routine, acting as a means to prime the body for subsequent performance. Previous Hterature has demonstrated the beneficial effect it can have, highlighted by a recent meta-analysis reporting that 79% of studies established an improvement in performance following the completion of a WU (Fradkin et al., 2010). The benefits of an active WU have previously been attributed to an elevation in muscle (T[muscle]) and/or core temperature (T[core]) and the associated temperature related mechanisms. However, current regulations within international swimming competitions require athletes to enter a marshalled call room 20 minutes prior to racing, thus creating a time delay between WU and subsequent performance. Consequently, temperature related performance gains, achieved from the active WU, may be lost. This was highlighted in a study by Mohr et al. (2004), in which a decrement in T[core] of ~1.1°C and a decrease in T[muscle] of ~2.0°C were observed over a 15 minute rest period. Additionally, the decrease in T[muscle] was strongly correlated to a 2.4+/-0.3% reduction in sprint performance. Therefore, the current study was conducted to examine the use of a custom developed heat jacket (incorporating Reflexcell technology) as a device for passively maintaining T[core] when swimmers are in a marshalled call room. Twelve male and female elite swimmers (age 20.83+/-2.21 years; mass 72.86+/-9.43kg; height 180.41+/-7.65cm) participated in this research. Participants were assessed on time trial (TT) performance (stroke and distance specific) 20 minutes after completing an active WU. During the 20 minute rest period, participants were exposed to either; (1) a control condition or (2) a passive heat maintenance condition. Heart rate, T[core], blood lactate and RPE were measured at five time points; pre WU (baseline), post WU, pre TT, post TT and 3 minutes post TT. The TT performance was significantly improved following the passive heat maintenance condition (Control 126.7+/-21.3 seconds; Passive heat maintenance 125.6+/-20.8 seconds; p=0.013), which equated to a 0.8+/-0.1% improvement in performance. Heart rate, blood lactate and RPE showed a comparable response in both conditions across the time course (P>0.05), similarly T[core] was not significantly different between conditions when measured at pre TT (Control 37.67+/-0.37°C; Passive heat maintenance 37.85+/-0.29°C; p=0.297). Therefore, despite an improvement in swimming TT performance, it appears unlikely that T[core] was the primary underlying mechanism responsible for this improvement. Although speculative, if heat generated in the muscle is restricted by the conditions of the environment and/or implemented strategies, limited heat dissipation to the environment will occur. As a result, T[muscle] will remain elevated whilst T[core] returns to near baseline values, thus T[muscle] would positively impact on performance. Additionally the placebo effect may provide an alternative explanation for the improvement in swimming performance observed in the current study.
Keywords: Kinesiology.
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering

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