Swimming confers significant physical and mental health benefits to people but there is little evidence regarding the impact of mastoid surgery on this activity.

Almost half of the patients (46.7%) swim less after mastoid surgery. Occasional swimmers are affected mostly. The need to protect the ear and dizziness are the main reasons to discontinue swimming.

Acute incapacitating vertigo occurs in 8.9% patients during swimming.

No difference in swimming frequency between patients with a closed or an open mastoid cavity was observed. The presence of a wet ear after surgery and the use of prophylactic measures did not affect the swimming frequency.

Patients should not be discouraged from swimming on the basis of mastoid surgery. We recommend a trial of swimming with or without protection in shallow waters first, under the supervision of an experience swimmer.