title: The influence of winter swimming on the rheological properties of blood.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in blood rheology resulting from regular winter swimming. The study was carried out on 12 male winter swimmers. Venous blood for morphological, biochemical and rheological analysis was sampled twice from each winter swimmer - at the beginning of the season and after its completion. There were no significant changes detected in the median values of most blood morphological parameters. The only exception pertained to MCHC which was significantly lower after the season. Winter swimming entailed significant decrease in median elongation index values at shear stress levels of 0.30 Pa and 0.58 Pa, and significant increase in median values of this parameter at shear stress levels ≥1.13 Pa. No significant changes were observed in winter swimmers' median values of aggregation indices and plasma viscosity. The median level of glucose was lower post winter swimming in comparison to the pre-seasonal values. In contrast, one season of winter swimming did not influence swimmers' median value of fibrinogen concentration. In summary, this study revealed positive effects of winter swimming on the rheological properties of blood, manifested by an increase in erythrocyte deformability without accompanying changes in erythrocyte aggregation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teległów
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dąbrowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchewka
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tyka
authors.affiliation: Cracow Society of Winter Swimmers "Kaloryfer", Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Głodzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szyguła
authors.affiliation: Department of Theory and Methodology of Track and Field Athletics, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mleczko
authors.affiliation: Department of Ergonomics and Exercise Physiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bilski
authors.affiliation: Department of Recreation and Biological Regeneration, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tyka
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Hematology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabarowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czepiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Theory and Methodology of Gymnastics, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Filar-Mierzwa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005947:Glucose; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Aggregation index; deformability; elongation index; erythrocyte; plasma viscosity