Our local swim teams(both masters and youth) have been battling with the temperature of our swimming pools during everyday use. As with many other cities, our pools are stretched to the limit for space between many different groups. One of these groups is an aerobic class for elderly folks. These aerobic classes insist that the water temperature stay between 83-85 degrees. this makes it impossible to swim laps at a competetive level during workouts. I feel this is unhealthy and would like to know if there are any studies to prove my point. I would appreciate the input.
Parents
Former Member
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine have issued a position paper on exercise and temperature. The paper deals with exercise on land and utilize three thermometers, a wet bulb, a dry bulb and I believe one with a black bulb. Since we are exercising in water their will be no differance between the wet and dry bulb. The table which accompanies the article recommends the activity level should be decreased about 83 F. The properties of water make water of 82 feel cold to an inactive individual, however it is difficult to dissapate heat at temperature above 82. Heat stroke has been reported in soccer players with a temperature in the mid 80's and a high relative humidity.
I swam in the 800/1500 meet at the U of Maryland and did an easy warm down. Walking to the shower, I became very light headed and had to grab the wall to keep from falling. I found out later the warm down pool was in the high 80's.
There was a paper in the sports medicine literature which recommended that a pool temperature not be increased by more than 2 degrees to allow swimmers to acclimate (I have not been able to find this reference recently). I do not believe there is a temperature which will satisfy both the swimmers and elderly. There is a risk (large / small?) to fitness swimmers with a temp in the mid 80's.
Reply
Former Member
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine have issued a position paper on exercise and temperature. The paper deals with exercise on land and utilize three thermometers, a wet bulb, a dry bulb and I believe one with a black bulb. Since we are exercising in water their will be no differance between the wet and dry bulb. The table which accompanies the article recommends the activity level should be decreased about 83 F. The properties of water make water of 82 feel cold to an inactive individual, however it is difficult to dissapate heat at temperature above 82. Heat stroke has been reported in soccer players with a temperature in the mid 80's and a high relative humidity.
I swam in the 800/1500 meet at the U of Maryland and did an easy warm down. Walking to the shower, I became very light headed and had to grab the wall to keep from falling. I found out later the warm down pool was in the high 80's.
There was a paper in the sports medicine literature which recommended that a pool temperature not be increased by more than 2 degrees to allow swimmers to acclimate (I have not been able to find this reference recently). I do not believe there is a temperature which will satisfy both the swimmers and elderly. There is a risk (large / small?) to fitness swimmers with a temp in the mid 80's.
