The effect of winter swimming on body's external temperature

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. The main aim was to compare the changes in external body temperature of students who gave in an immersion of winter swimming. Material and Methods. The study group consisted of 15 students, including 7 males and 8 females. The average age of the subjects was 22.4+1.12 years. The group was tested by measuring outer body temperature at 30 spots across their bodies by using a FLUXE 64 MAX pyrometer. Afterwards, subjects entered ice-cold water for 3 minutes. Immediately after leaving the water the second temperature measurements at the same 30 spots were conducted, and the third measurements were done 15 minutes after leaving the water. After 15 days of testing the comparison was made: temperature values from before and after the immersion. Results. The students showed significantly higher average body temperature values before the testing (34.96°C ± 2.21 to 21.85 ± 3.68) and the lowest after the testing (29.86°C ± 4.91 to 6.26°C ± 1.04). The highest difference in average temperatures was obtained in the measurement of the left lower leg - front, the examination before and after (20.73°C), and the lowest in the measurement of the right hand - palm side, the examination after and 15 minutes after (0.19°C). Conclusions. Winter swimming is becoming an increasingly popular sport activity. Conducted research shows the positive influence of winter swimming on human body and organism. The presented research should be further continued in order to learn more about the influence of cold on human body.

Keywords

• winter swimming
• thermoregulation
• non-invasive temperature measurement
• blood flow
• body reaction to cold