SynthesisEuropean journal of applied physiology2025
Hyperthermia during open water swimming: risks, monitoring and mitigation strategies.
Synthesis in European journal of applied physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe environmental conditions in open water swimming (OWS) can impair thermoregulation. Here we explored and discussed four interrelated topics concerning the disruption of thermal homeostasis, in parallel with the underlying physiological mechanisms, during OWS competitions in hot climates: (i) potential health risks; (ii) possible impacts on performance; (iii) technical feasibility of core temperature (Tc) measurement; and (iv) cooling strategies applicable to this context.
methodsAn integrative review was conducted. A systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science was performed, yielding 4610 studies. After screening and excluding duplicates, 42 studies underwent full-text review, resulting in 20 studies included.
resultsWater temperatures (Tw) close to the upper limit established by World Aquatics (31 °C) negatively affect performance and increase health risks for open water swimmers. Thermal stress during competitions, caused by prolonged exposure to hot water, impairs thermoregulation, leading to dehydration, increased Tc, and cardiovascular strain. Cooling strategies such as pre-cooling and per-cooling showed potential to mitigate heat strain, although their application in open water swimming events remains challenging due to logistical constraints. Modern strategies of post-cooling have been primarily designed for pre-hospital or emergency care settings. Wearable technologies for real-time Tc monitoring emerged as a promising tool for improving athlete safety and performance management during competitions.
conclusionThe rise in Tc during open water swimming in hot water is a worrying phenomenon caused by impaired cooling mechanisms, is exacerbated by prolonged exposure to solar radiation, and negatively impacts performance and increases health risks. Cooling strategies such as pre-cooling and per-cooling are key strategies to mitigate heat strain. Wearable physiological monitoring now allows for better modeling of individual thermophysiological profiles, improving both competitive strategies and safety.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40888866What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.