The DRY warm-up protocol significantly reduced the dive time of a 75m dynamic apnea compared to the WET warm-up protocol (69.56 vs 72.22 seconds, p=0.028) and resulted in lower pre-dive lactate levels.
RCT (n=9)
Open-label
Randomized
No
Does a DRY warm-up improve physiological responses and dynamic apnea performance compared to a WET warm-up in healthy freediving athletes?
A DRY warm-up protocol induces a more pronounced diving response and lowers pre-dive lactate levels, improving dynamic apnea performance compared to traditional WET warm-ups.
Standardized Mean Difference: 0.17
Absolute Event Rate: 69.56% vs 72.22%
p-value: p=0.028
The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute physiological response to different warm-up protocols on the dynamic apnea performance. The traditional approach, including a series of short-mid dives in water (WET warm-up), was compared to a more recent strategy, consisting in exercises performed outside the water (DRY warm-up). Nine athletes were tested in two different sessions, in which the only difference was the warm-up executed before 75m of dynamic apnea. Heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, hemoglobin, blood lactate and the rate of perceived exertion were recorded and analyzed. With respect to WET condition, DRY showed lower lactate level before the dive (1.93 vs. 2.60 mmol/L, p = 0.006), higher autonomic indices and lower heart rate during the subsequent dynamic apnea. A significant correlation between lactate produced during WET with the duration of the subsequent dynamic apnea, suggests that higher lactate levels could affect the dive performance (72 vs. 70 sec, p = 0.028). The hemoglobin concentration and the rate of perceived exertion did not show significant differences between conditions. The present findings partially support the claims of freediving athletes who adopt the DRY warm-up, since it induces a more pronounced diving response, avoiding higher lactate levels and reducing the dive time of a dynamic apnea.
Vitali et al. (Wed,) conducted a rct in Healthy trained freedivers (n=9). DRY warm-up vs. WET warm-up was evaluated on Diving time for 75m dynamic apnea (d = 0.17, p=0.028). The DRY warm-up protocol significantly reduced the dive time of a 75m dynamic apnea compared to the WET warm-up protocol (69.56 vs 72.22 seconds, p=0.028) and resulted in lower pre-dive lactate levels.
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