Assessing Recovery in Collegiate Swimmers Through Wearable Technology

Assessing Recovery in Collegiate Swimmers Through Wearable Technology

Alvin Sherman Library

Collegiate swimmers face extreme physiological demands during high-intensity training phases like "Hell Week," a winter training intensive loading microcycle, that makes recovery monitoring critical for maintaining performance. This study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and recovery markers. Specifically, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Resting Heart Rate (RHR), in nine female collegiate swimmers (ages 19-23) across all collegiate years. Participants included sprinters, mid-distance, and distance swimmers, leading to varied total yardage across training groups. Over an eight-day period (seven training days and one rest day), data was collected via screenshots from Garmin (n=4) and WHOOP (n=5) wearable devices. Metrics included RHR, the lowest pulse recorded during sleep, and sleep stages (awake, light, deep, and REM). Results indicated a distinct correlation between sleep and HRV consistency. Athletes with a higher percentage of "awake sleep" showed HRV fluctuations, indicating a strained nervous system and disrupted recovery. In contrast, those with lower "awake" percentages maintained consistent HRV levels throughout the intensive week. Because HRV reflects autonomic nervous system balance, these findings suggest that sleep quality directly dictates a swimmer's physiological readiness. Consistent sleep is vital for recovery during high-intensity training. This study demonstrates that wearable technology provides the essential data needed to monitor athlete health during these loading cycles.