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Cited by 107Thermoregulation and physiological responsesCardiovascular and exercise physiologySports Performance and Training

Moving in extreme environments: Open water swimming in cold and warm water

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Tipton, Michael, Bradford, Carl·2014·Extreme Physiology & Medicine
DOI 10.1186/2046-7648-3-12PMC PMC4052348
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Abstract

Open water swimming (OWS), either 'wild' such as river swimming or competitive, is a fast growing pastime as well as a part of events such as triathlons. Little evidence is available on which to base high and low water temperature limits. Also, due to factors such as acclimatisation, which disassociates thermal sensation and comfort from thermal state, individuals cannot be left to monitor their own physical condition during swims. Deaths have occurred during OWS; these have been due to not only thermal responses but also cardiac problems. This paper, which is part of a series on 'Moving in Extreme Environments', briefly reviews current understanding in pertinent topics associated with OWS. Guidelines are presented for the organisation of open water events to minimise risk, and it is concluded that more information on the responses to immersion in cold and warm water, the causes of the individual variation in these responses and the precursors to the cardiac events that appear to be the primary cause of death in OWS events will help make this enjoyable sport even safer.

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  • Seasonal open water swimming can involve temperatures as low as 10°C-15°C.

    “As the temperature of swimming pool water is typically between 20 and 25 • C, and seasonal open water swimming can involve temperatures as low as 10 • C-15 • C (Tipton & Bradford, 2014), exercising in cold water could stimulate hunger encouraging energy intake after exercise.”

    From Influence of water-based exercise on energy intake, appetite, and appetite-related hormones in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2023) · cites this paper as Tipton & Bradford, 2014

  • The temperature of swimming pool water is typically between 20 and 25°C.

    “As the temperature of swimming pool water is typically between 20 and 25 • C, and seasonal open water swimming can involve temperatures as low as 10 • C-15 • C (Tipton & Bradford, 2014), exercising in cold water could stimulate hunger encouraging energy intake after exercise.”

    From Influence of water-based exercise on energy intake, appetite, and appetite-related hormones in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2023) · cites this paper as Tipton & Bradford, 2014

    The Relevant regulations section describes 25°C as a threshold for body cooling during exercise and 10–15°C as a range many agencies define as cold water. Neither passage says that swimming pool water is typically 20–25°C; a search for pool-temperature guidance found no such statement in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.72)

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Cited by

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Authors
Tipton, M., & Bradford, C.
Affiliations
University of Otago (NZ)
Venue
Extreme Physiology & Medicine
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-06-11
Volume
3
Issue
1
Pages
12-12
ISSN
2046-7648 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/2046-7648-3-12
PMC
PMC4052348
OpenAlex
W2100392718
Cited by
107
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1
FWCI
0.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Extreme Physiology & Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
open water swimming, cold water immersion, warm water immersion, acclimatization, thermal sensation, thermal comfort, cardiac events, drowning, triathlon

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