Effect of Preliminary Passive Warming on Swimming Performance

Abstract

Abstract The effect of preliminary heating by eight-minute hot showers was investigated in a group of male swimmers who made more than 400 trial swims. There was found an improvement of one per cent in comparison with trials without preliminary heating. The difference in performance was statistically highly significant. Evidence is presented that the improvement could not be explained psychologically as the result of suggestion. Practical applications to the athlete of passive warming are considered. Examples of the results of such techniques used with some Australian Olympic swimmers are given.