Comparison of the inflammatory and stress response between sprint interval swimming and running

The aim of the study was to compare myocellular damage, metabolic stress, and inflammatory responses as well as circulating sodium (Na⁺ ) and potassium (K⁺ ) between a single sprint swimming and running training. Eighteen subjects regularly involved in swimming and running training for at least 2 years were recruited. The subjects performed 8 × 30 seconds "all out" exercise on different days either by running or by swimming in a random order. Blood was collected before each training session, after the cessation of exercise (post) and after 2 hours of rest (2 hours). We then analyzed tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 6 (IL-6), cortisol, creatine kinase MB isoform (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), K⁺ , and Na⁺ . Neither TNF-α nor IL-10 differed between swimming and running. Most of the subjects showed a non-statistically significant increase of LDH and CK-MB after swimming. On the other hand, IL-6 (P < .05) and cortisol (P < .05) were significantly lower after 2 hours of swimming than after running. In addition, post-exercise K⁺ was significantly lower (P < .001) for swimming than for running. Our results provide evidence of similar inflammatory responses between exercise modes but lower metabolic stress in response to swimming than in response to running.