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Cold Water Swimming—Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review

Author

Listed:
  • Beat Knechtle

    (Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Zbigniew Waśkiewicz

    (Institute of Sport Science, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
    Department of Sports Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation Moscow, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 19c1 Moscow, Russia)

  • Caio Victor Sousa

    (Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Lee Hill

    (Division of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada)

  • Pantelis T. Nikolaidis

    (School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Cold water swimming (winter or ice swimming) has a long tradition in northern countries. Until a few years ago, ice swimming was practiced by very few extreme athletes. For some years now, ice swimming has been held as competitions in ice-cold water (colder than 5 °C). The aim of this overview is to present the current status of benefits and risks for swimming in cold water. When cold water swimming is practiced by experienced people with good health in a regular, graded and adjusted mode, it appears to bring health benefits. However, there is a risk of death in unfamiliar people, either due to the initial neurogenic cold shock response or due to a progressive decrease in swimming efficiency or hypothermia.

Suggested Citation

  • Beat Knechtle & Zbigniew Waśkiewicz & Caio Victor Sousa & Lee Hill & Pantelis T. Nikolaidis, 2020. "Cold Water Swimming—Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8984-:d:455239
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Viktor Bielik & Marian Grendar & Martin Kolisek, 2021. "A Possible Preventive Role of Physically Active Lifestyle during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic; Might Regular Cold-Water Swimming and Exercise Reduce the Symptom Severity of COVID-19?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, July.
    2. Beat Knechtle & Ram Barkai & Lee Hill & Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Thomas Rosemann & Caio Victor Sousa, 2021. "Influence of Anthropometric Characteristics on Ice Swimming Performance—The IISA Ice Mile and Ice Km," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Aneta Teległów & Valerjan Romanovski & Beata Skowron & Dawid Mucha & Łukasz Tota & Joanna Rosińczuk & Dariusz Mucha, 2021. "The Effect of Extreme Cold on Complete Blood Count and Biochemical Indicators: A Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, December.

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