The Impact of Wetsuit Use on Swimming Performance, Physiology and Biomechanics: A Systematic Review

  1. Gay, Ana
  2. Ruiz-Navarro, Jesús J.
  3. Cuenca-Fernández, Francisco
  4. López-Belmonte, Óscar
  5. Abraldes, J. Arturo 1
  6. Fernandes, Ricardo J.
  7. Arellano, Raúl
  1. 1 Universidad de Murcia
    info

    Universidad de Murcia

    Murcia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03p3aeb86

Revista:
Physiologia

ISSN: 2673-9488

Año de publicación: 2022

Volumen: 2

Número: 4

Páginas: 198-230

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.3390/PHYSIOLOGIA2040016 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Physiologia

Resumen

This systematic review aims to summarize the effects of wearing different types of wetsuitsand swimsuits in front crawl swimming performance and physiological- and biomechanical-relatedvariables. The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and the Proceedings of the International Symposiumon Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming databases were searched from inception to 25th March2022. From the 1398 studies initially found, 26 studies were included in the review. The qualityassessment and inter-rater reliability between researchers were conducted. The full body was themost studied wetsuit, with its use allowing 3.2–12.9% velocity increments in distances ranging from25 to 1500 m, in incremental tests, in 5 and 30 min continuous swimming and in open water events.The sleeveless long vs. the full-body wetsuit led to a 400–800 m performance enhancement. Higherstroke rate, stroke length and stroke index were observed while using three different covered bodypart wetsuits vs. a regular swimsuit, with a lower energy cost being observed when swimmingwith the full-body wetsuit compared to a swimsuit. These findings provide useful informationfor coaches, swimmers and triathletes about the full-body and sleeveless long/short wetsuit use,since these three wetsuits allow improving swimming performance in different distances in diverseaquatic environments.

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Información de financiación

Financiadores

  • Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (Spanish Agency of Research) and the European Regional Development Fund
    • PGC2018-102116-B-100
  • ‘SWIM II: Specific Water Innovative Measurements: Applied to the performance improvement’ and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
    • FPU16/02629
    • FPU17/02761
    • FPU19/02477
  • University of Granada, Granada

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