Factors related to the advantageous effects of wearing a wetsuit during swimming at different submaximal velocity in triathletes

This study was designed to compare the effects of wetsuit (WS) to swimsuit (SS) at identical relative velocities in a swimming flume. Thirteen triathletes performed a continuous progressive swimming test and submaximal steady state swimming tests with a WS and with a SS. Maximal oxygen uptake ((V) over dot(o2) (max) ) and the associated velocity at which the (V) over dot(o2) (max) was achieved V(V) over dot(o2) (max)) were determined during the continuous progressive tests. Two 5 min swims (at 60% V(V) over dot(o2) (max) (V-60%) and 80% V(V) over dot(o2) (max) (V-80%)) were then conducted to measure (V) over dot(o2) (max), blood lactate concentration (LA), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), the energy cost of swimming (Cs), stroke rate (SR) and stroke length (SL). No difference was found in (V) over dot(o2) (max), but (V) over dot(o2) (max) with a WS was 5.4% higher than with a SS. (V) over dot(o2) (max) was tower than with a SS alone at V-60%, but not at V-80%. Cs with a WS was lower by 14.4% at V-60% and 7.5% at V-80% than with a SS. No differences were found in (V) over dot(o2) (max) and RPE between suit conditions during both submaximal swims. Wearing a WS did not affect SL, but SR tended to be higher in a WS for both submaximal velocities. These results suggest that the benefits of wearing a WS are not only improvement in swimming performance and propulsion efficiency, but reduction in gross energy consumption in the swimming portion of triathlon races. Furthermore, when wearing a WS, incremental changes in SR rather than SL are associated with improved swimming performance. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.