Research in Sport Medicine and Technology

This study investigated the effect of water immersion and passive recovery on blood lactate and subsequent swimming performance. Ten trained female swimmers, age (17.8 ±2.2), height (164.55.8 cm), weight (59.29.9 kg), %BF (22.41.7) and BMI (21.85.4kg/m2) completed three experimental trials differing in 15 min recovery intervention three times a week with 48 hrs distance: land (sitting near the pool) (PAS), contrast water therapy (CWT) (alternating hot 40,2 min/cold 23,1min) and cold water immersion(CWI)(23 ). Before and after 100meters front crawl and each three
minute during of recovery blood lactate, heart rate and skin temperature were
recorded. Participants repeated 100meters front crawl after the recovery.
Repeated measure and LSD were used for data analysis. In all statistical
analyses, the threshold for significance was set at (p≤0.05). Results showed
that Heart rate decreased significantly in CWI toward PAS. Lactate removal was
largest in CWT compared to the PAS. Skin temperature and fatigue decreased
significantly after immersion and significant difference was observed in
subsequent performance after immersion toward PAS. So it seems immersion
conditions, can enhance quality of recovery.