Swimmers’ extremity temperature: From autonomy of vessels towards joy of swimming

Background- Autonomic psychophysiology has opened a new field in modern sports science and practice, providing effective means for improving swimming training and skills. Of the famous items of this technology is extremity temperature, which gives an estimate of pleasure and autonomic balance. Nevertheless, the literature related to this area and swimming shows a significant gap.   Aims- The current study measures and interprets the extremity temperature of swimmers during swimming training, which can be beneficent for adjusting training approaches, as well as designing neuroscience interventions (including biofeedback) for athletic peak performance. Methods- Ten teenage swimmers voluntarily participated in this research, aged ۱۱-۱۳ years, ۳۰% male (n=۳). They were under training by the main researchers, selected with available sampling, grouped as fully trained and semi-trained (each group N=۵). Informed consent was obtained, and a ۱۵ minutes recording session of the extremity temperature was performed, during rest as well as the challenge of swimming competition imagery. Findings were ultimately compared in the two groups. Results- The semi-trained group had a higher extremity temperature compared to the fully trained group (۲۹.۵۲ ± ۳.۱۹ versus ۳۰.۷۴ ± ۴.۸۳), which indicates more pleasure and autonomic balance during swimming imagery. Thereby complete training of swimming was associated with relative dominance of sympathetic activity, and unpleasant autonomic imbalance. Conclusion- The findings of the present study show that competitive tensions and involvement in technical details at the end of swimming training might cause unpleasant emotions and physical alterations, and such conditions ought to be adjusted.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sport physiology ، sympathetic nervous system ، parasympathetic nervous system ، autonomic neurophysiology ، well-being ، pleasure