Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim
INTRODUCTION: There are no available data addressing the potential clinical risks of open-water swimming competitions. OBJECTIVE: Address the risks of hypothermia and hypoglycemia during a 10-km open-water swimming competition in order to alert physicians to the potential dangers of this recently-in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier España
2009-04-01
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| Series: | Clinics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322009000400014 |
| _version_ | 1818111979376607232 |
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| author | Renata R. T. Castro Fernanda SNS Mendes Antonio Claudio L. Nobrega |
| author_facet | Renata R. T. Castro Fernanda SNS Mendes Antonio Claudio L. Nobrega |
| author_sort | Renata R. T. Castro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | INTRODUCTION: There are no available data addressing the potential clinical risks of open-water swimming competitions. OBJECTIVE: Address the risks of hypothermia and hypoglycemia during a 10-km open-water swimming competition in order to alert physicians to the potential dangers of this recently-introduced Olympic event. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study, conducted during a 10-km open-water event (water temperature 21ºC). The highest ranked elite open-water swimmers in Brazil (7 men, 5 women; ages 21±7 years old) were submitted to anthropometrical measurements on the day before competition. All but one athlete took maltodextrine ad libitum during the competition. Core temperature and capillary glycemia data were obtained before and immediately after the race. RESULTS: Most athletes (83%) finished the race with mild to moderate hypothermia (core temperature <35ºC). The body temperature drop was more pronounced in female athletes (4.2±0.7ºC vs. male: 2.7±0.8ºC; p=0.040). When data from the athlete who did not take maltodextrine was excluded, capillary glycemia increased among athletes (pre 86.6±8.9 mg/dL; post 105.5±26.9 mg/dL; p=0.014). Time to complete the race was inversely related to pre- competition body temperature in men (r=-0.802; p=0.030), while it was inversely correlated with the change in capillary glycemia in women (r=-0.898; p=0.038). CONCLUSION: Hypothermia may occur during open-water swimming events even in elite athletes competing in relatively warm water. Thus, core temperature must be a chief concern of any physician during an open-water swim event. Capillary glycemia may have positive effects on performance. Further studies that include more athletes in a controlled setting are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:11:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f14165372a834566b68cb72ac6fea3e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1807-5932 1980-5322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:11:39Z |
| publishDate | 2009-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier España |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f14165372a834566b68cb72ac6fea3e02022-12-22T01:22:51ZengElsevier EspañaClinics1807-59321980-53222009-04-0164435135610.1590/S1807-59322009000400014Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swimRenata R. T. CastroFernanda SNS MendesAntonio Claudio L. NobregaINTRODUCTION: There are no available data addressing the potential clinical risks of open-water swimming competitions. OBJECTIVE: Address the risks of hypothermia and hypoglycemia during a 10-km open-water swimming competition in order to alert physicians to the potential dangers of this recently-introduced Olympic event. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study, conducted during a 10-km open-water event (water temperature 21ºC). The highest ranked elite open-water swimmers in Brazil (7 men, 5 women; ages 21±7 years old) were submitted to anthropometrical measurements on the day before competition. All but one athlete took maltodextrine ad libitum during the competition. Core temperature and capillary glycemia data were obtained before and immediately after the race. RESULTS: Most athletes (83%) finished the race with mild to moderate hypothermia (core temperature <35ºC). The body temperature drop was more pronounced in female athletes (4.2±0.7ºC vs. male: 2.7±0.8ºC; p=0.040). When data from the athlete who did not take maltodextrine was excluded, capillary glycemia increased among athletes (pre 86.6±8.9 mg/dL; post 105.5±26.9 mg/dL; p=0.014). Time to complete the race was inversely related to pre- competition body temperature in men (r=-0.802; p=0.030), while it was inversely correlated with the change in capillary glycemia in women (r=-0.898; p=0.038). CONCLUSION: Hypothermia may occur during open-water swimming events even in elite athletes competing in relatively warm water. Thus, core temperature must be a chief concern of any physician during an open-water swim event. Capillary glycemia may have positive effects on performance. Further studies that include more athletes in a controlled setting are warranted.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322009000400014SwimmingAthletic performanceSportsBody temperature changesEmergency medicine |
| spellingShingle | Renata R. T. Castro Fernanda SNS Mendes Antonio Claudio L. Nobrega Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim Clinics Swimming Athletic performance Sports Body temperature changes Emergency medicine |
| title | Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim |
| title_full | Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim |
| title_fullStr | Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim |
| title_short | Risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event: the 10-km marathon swim |
| title_sort | risk of hypothermia in a new olympic event the 10 km marathon swim |
| topic | Swimming Athletic performance Sports Body temperature changes Emergency medicine |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322009000400014 |
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