Elite sprint swimming performance is enhanced by completion of additional warm-up activities

This study investigated the effect of completing additional warm-up strategies in the transition phase between the pool warm up and the start of a race on elite sprint swimming performance. Twenty-five elite swimmers (12 men, 20 +/- 3years; 13 women, 20 +/- 2years, performance standard similar to 807 FINA2014 points) completed a standardised pool warm up followed by a 30-min transition phase and a 100-m freestyle time trial. During the transition phase, swimmers wore a tracksuit jacket with integrated heating elements and performed a dry land-based exercise routine (Combo), or a conventional tracksuit and remained seated (Control). Start (1.5% +/- 1.0%, P=0.02; mean +/- 90% confidence limits) and 100-m time trial (0.8% +/- 0.4%, P < 0.01) performances were improved in Combo. Core temperature declined less (-0.2 degrees C +/- 0.1 degrees C versus -0.5 degrees C +/- 0.1 degrees C, P = 0.02) during the transition phase and total local (trapezius) haemoglobin concentration was greater before the time trial in Combo (81 mu M +/- 25 mu M versus 30 mu M +/- 18 mu M, P < 0.01; mean +/- standard deviation) than in Control. Combining swimmers traditional pool warm up with passive heating via heated jackets and completion of dry land-based exercises in the transition phase improves elite sprint swimming performance by similar to 0.8%.