Disclosures: Micheal T. Murphy, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest
Objective: To analyze the existing literature on heat injury in open-water swimming (OWS) as it pertains to the epidemiology and physiology of OWS in order to develop recommendations for prevention, risk reduction, and treatment option for sports related heat injury in competitive swimming.
Design: Systematic Review Setting : n/a Participants : n/a
Interventions: Relevant literature was located via computer-generated citations. During December 2019, online computer searches of multiple databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Cochrane Review were conducted to locate published research. Ultimately, 1387 articles related to sport related heat injury were identified. Of the 721 articles related to open-water swimming, 82 were specific to swimming related heat injury, and a total of 41 studies were selected for analysis.
Main Outcome Measures: n/a
Results: OWS athletes are exposed to environmental considerations that place them at risk for unique medical conditions such as heat injury, including heat stroke. Clinicians providing care for OWS athletes should be educated and trained to recognize and manage risks and conditions that are related to heat injury in an effort to ensure athlete safety. Conclusions: This article identifies medical challenges related to heat injury in OWS, including water temperature recommendations, physiological effects of hyperthermia, risk minimization strategies, and treatment measures. The existing literature supports the development of guidelines for treatment of swimming related heat injuries in competition. However, given the lack of large-scale, methodologically sound, comprehensive epidemiological studies on swimming injuries and illness, it is important to continue to study and educate ourselves on these prevalent issues in the sport in order to ensure the safety of OWS athletes.
Level of Evidence: Level I
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Murphy MT. Heat Injury in Open Water Swimmers [abstract]. PM R. 2020; 12(S1)(suppl 1). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/heat-injury-in-open-water-swimmers/. Accessed May 31, 2025.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2020
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/heat-injury-in-open-water-swimmers/