Walking in water (Aquatic Physiotherapy) is a simple, reproducible and affordable method. Warm pool water reduces peripheral vascular resistance.
Purpose of the study was to assess the effect of dosed physical activity in a fresh water on the microcirculation of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) when applied externally.
Materials and methods. The study included 14 subjects (7 men, 7 women) aged 18 to 70, with AH stage I. The patients were administered aqua training course in the form of walking in a fresh water for the 30 minutes duration, the course of treatment included 10 procedures, the water temperature in the pool was 30–32C. Before and after the end of the intervention, several parameters were monitored, including the assessment of microcirculation using laser Doppler flowmetry.
Results: In patients receiving aqua training in a fresh water, there was a significant decrease of arterio-venular bypass grafting by 25.0%from the initial (Wilcoxon T-test = 310.0; p = 0.004) and an increase in the muscle component of microcirculation regulation (Wilcoxon T-test = 399.0; p <0.05), which indicates an improvement in microcirculation under the influence of aqua training. The optimal duration of training in fresh water was found to be equal to five days, after which the indicators characterizing microcirculation remain at the plateau level, without significantly changing. Significantly more often, the positive effect of aqua training was achieved in the group of patients with microcirculation disorders of the type of venous stasis (χ2 = 10.6; p <0.001).
Conclusion. Laser Doppler flowmetry screening may be useful method to select patients with AH in a greatest need of aquatic training.
Limb perfusion in the lower limb amputee—a comparative study using a laser Doppler flowmeter and a transcutaneous oxygen electrode
