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
Their were two articles in the European Journal of Applied Physiology which addressed the issue of core temperature increases associated with swimming. The first Dore...62:130-134 found that swimming for 45 min at 70% of Vmax in 26C (78.8 F) would raise your core temp 0.9C. The other article by Kaciuba-Useilko ...64:26-31 found that swimming for 1 hr at 68% of Vmax in 27C (80.6F) would raise your core temp 0.7C.
(I assume their may be differences in experimental design) Vigourously exercising muscles can reach a temp of 103. Core temps above 102 put you at signifiacant risk. As you increase the intensity of exercise or the water temp, the core temp increase would also increase.
Acclimation to warmer water should play a role in allowing a swimmer to tolerate warmer water.
The recommendations for pool temperater for aqua fitness, the elderly, perinatal and young children are all higher than temps which are comfortable for fitness swimmers. Most Ys and rec pools cater to this population.
The primary criteria I use in choosing a pool is water temp.
On a personal note, I swam in water ranging from 65 (USMS mile open water swim) to 86 (Ga state games). I tolerated the 65 degree water better than the 86.
Their were two articles in the European Journal of Applied Physiology which addressed the issue of core temperature increases associated with swimming. The first Dore...62:130-134 found that swimming for 45 min at 70% of Vmax in 26C (78.8 F) would raise your core temp 0.9C. The other article by Kaciuba-Useilko ...64:26-31 found that swimming for 1 hr at 68% of Vmax in 27C (80.6F) would raise your core temp 0.7C.
(I assume their may be differences in experimental design) Vigourously exercising muscles can reach a temp of 103. Core temps above 102 put you at signifiacant risk. As you increase the intensity of exercise or the water temp, the core temp increase would also increase.
Acclimation to warmer water should play a role in allowing a swimmer to tolerate warmer water.
The recommendations for pool temperater for aqua fitness, the elderly, perinatal and young children are all higher than temps which are comfortable for fitness swimmers. Most Ys and rec pools cater to this population.
The primary criteria I use in choosing a pool is water temp.
On a personal note, I swam in water ranging from 65 (USMS mile open water swim) to 86 (Ga state games). I tolerated the 65 degree water better than the 86.
