Swimming in cold water is intrinsically unsafe. One of the threats is a fall in core body temperature (Tcore), which adversely affects all body systems and increases the risk of death. Wetsuits mitigate, but do not negate this threat. Environmental conditions may confound findings from laboratory studies or computer models, thus necessitating open water studies. This study was designed to investigate the effects of open water wetsuited swimming on core body temperature at a range of different water temperatures between 8.4oC and 24.5oC.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
36
All swimmers used their own well-fitting wetsuits (5 mm maximum thickness in accordance with World Triathlon guidelines7) and were free to supplement additional neoprene hats, gloves and booties as desired. A safety paramedic attended all swims. Swim distance was self-determined
Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Olso, Olso, Norway
Core temperature
A self-inserted rectal pill was used to continuously measure core temperature in 76 open water swims by 31 wetsuited swimmers in water temperatures ranging from 8.4°C to 24.5°C. The Tcore curves were analysed by linear mixed model regression.
Time frame: The thermistor was inserted 15 minutes prior to immersion and measured the core temperature until 30 minutes after egress from the water.
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