title: Heated jackets and dryland-based activation exercises used as additional warm-ups during transition enhance sprint swimming performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The lengthy competition transition phases commonly experienced by competitive swimmers may mitigate the benefits of the pool warm-up. To combat this, we examined the impact of additional passive and active warm-up strategies on sprint swimming performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Counterbalanced, repeated-measures cross-over study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen junior competitive swimmers completed a standardised pool warm-up followed by a 30min transition and 100m freestyle time-trial. Swimmers completed four different warm-up strategies during transition: remained seated wearing a conventional tracksuit top and pants (Control), wore an insulated top with integrated heating elements (Passive), performed a 5min dryland-based exercise circuit (Dryland), or a combination of Passive and Dryland (Combo). Swimming time-trial performance, core and skin temperature and perceptual variables were monitored. Time variables were normalised relative to Control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both Combo (-1.05±0.26%; mean±90% confidence limits, p=0.00) and Dryland (-0.68±0.34%; p=0.02) yielded faster overall time-trial performances, with start times also faster for Combo (-0.37±0.07%; p=0.00) compared to Control. Core temperature declined less during transition with Combo (-0.13±0.25°C; p=0.01) and possibly with Dryland (-0.24±0.13°C; p=0.09) compared to Control (-0.64±0.16°C), with a smaller reduction in core temperature related to better time-trial performance (R(2)=0.91; p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dryland-based exercise circuits completed alone and in combination with the application of heated tracksuit jackets during transition can significantly improve sprint swimming performance. Attenuation in the decline of core temperature and a reduction in start time appear as likely mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: courtney.mcgowan@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Courtney J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Australia.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, United States of America.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Raglin
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Australia; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rattray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003020:Clothing; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D063996:Warm-Up Exercise
keywords: Core temperature; Passive heating; Swim performance