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Effect of cold water immersion on 100-m sprint performance in well-trained swimmers

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of cold water immersion (CWI) on sprint swimming performance in simulated competition conditions. Ten well-trained swimmers (5 males, 5 females; 19.0 ± 3.9 years) performed two 100-m swimming sprints (S1 and S2) interspersed with a 30-min passive recovery period, during which athletes were randomly assigned to 5 min of CWI (14°C) or an out-of-water control condition (CON 28°C). During tests, sprint times, heart rate (HR), pre- and post-race parasympathetic activity via HR variability (natural logarithm of the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R–R intervals; Ln rMSSD) and blood lactate accumulation ([La]ac) and clearance ([La]cle) were recorded. Rates of perceived recovery (RPR) and exertion (RPE) were evaluated before and after each sprint. CWI was associated with a ‘likely’ decrease in swimming performance [1.8% (90% CI 0.2, 3.5)], as well as ‘likely’ lower peak HR [−1.9% (−3.6, −0.2)]. CWI was also associated with a ‘likely’ smaller decrease in Ln rMSSD after the first sprint [−16.7% (−30.9, −4.1)]. RPR was ‘likely’ better [+27.2% (−3.7, 68.0)] following CWI. ‘unclear’ effects were observed for [La]ac [+24.7% (−13.4, 79.5)], [La]cle [−7.6% (−24.2, 12.7)] or RPE [+2.0% (−12.3, 18.5)]. Following CWI, changes in sprint times were ‘largely’ correlated with changes in peak HR (r = 0.80). Despite a subjective perception of improved recovery following CWI, this recovery intervention resulted in slower swimming times in well-trained athletes swimming in simulated competition conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the swimmers for their enthusiastic participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory, EA 3300 Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Picardie Jules Verne, 80025, Amiens, France

    Jonathan Parouty, Hani Al Haddad, Pierre Marie Leprêtre, Said Ahmaidi & Martin Buchheit

  2. Talent Swimming Center, Amiens Métropole Natation, Amiens, France

    Jonathan Parouty

  3. Sport Development and Analysis, Swim Force One Association, Berck, France

    Jonathan Parouty

  4. Performance Enhancement and Talent Identification Section, Aspire, Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, Qatar

    Marc Quod & Martin Buchheit

  5. Sport Development and Analysis, Myorobie Association, Montvalezan, France

    Martin Buchheit

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  1. Jonathan Parouty
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  2. Hani Al Haddad
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  3. Marc Quod
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  4. Pierre Marie Leprêtre
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  5. Said Ahmaidi
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  6. Martin Buchheit
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Correspondence to Martin Buchheit.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Parouty, J., Al Haddad, H., Quod, M. et al. Effect of cold water immersion on 100-m sprint performance in well-trained swimmers. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 483–490 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1381-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1381-2

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