Cardiovascular responses in rest, exercise, and recovery phases in water immersion

The present study assessed the effects of 40 min of tail shock stress (1-s shock, 0.2 mA every 30 s) on renal and cardiovascular function in swim-trained (T), water-immersed (IM), and untrained (UT) borderline hypertensive rats (BHR). T BHR swam for 2 h/day 5 days/wk for 10–12 wk, whereas IM BHR on the same schedule were placed in water at neck level and were not permitted to swim. Age-matched sedentary controls were paired one each with the exercise group (group 1) and the immersion group (group 2). Heart rate was significantly greater in UT than in T BHR (P = 0.09) during baseline (rest). Heart rate responses during stress were not different between UT and IM BHR (group 2). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures during stress and recovery were not different between UT BHR and T or IM BHR. Urine flow rate was significantly increased from baseline during the first 20 min of stress in UT and IM BHR only. Changes in glomerular filtration rate were not consistent across studies. Renal blood flow decreased significantly from baseline during tail shock stress in UT but not T BHR. Plasma glucose levels were significantly increased above baseline during the second 20 min of stress in UT BHR only and were significantly greater than those in the T BHR. Plasma insulin levels in UT BHR were significantly decreased from baseline during tail shock stress and recovery but were unchanged from baseline in T BHR. These observations suggest that swim training independent of water immersion alters the effect that stress exerts on renal and cardiovascular function in BHR, which results in better fluid and electrolyte conservation in T BHR.

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Comparison of acute cardiovascular responses to water immersion and head-down tilt in humans

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.2002.92.1.264 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 264-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Makoto Shiraishi ◽

Morten Schou ◽

Mikkel Gybel ◽

Niels Juel Christensen ◽

Peter Norsk

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Cardiac Output ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Plasma Norepinephrine ◽

Arterial Pulse ◽

Lower Plasma ◽

Left Atrial Diameter ◽

Healthy Males

The hypothesis was tested that acute water immersion to the neck (WI) compared with 6° head-down tilt (HDT) induces a more pronounced distension of the heart and lower plasma levels of vasoconstrictor hormones. Ten healthy males underwent 30 min of HDT, WI, and a seated control (randomized). During WI, left atrial diameter and stroke volume increased to the same extent as during HDT. Cardiac output increased by 1 l/min more during WI than during HDT. ( P < 0.05). Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide increased during WI ( P < 0.05) but not during HDT, whereas plasma norepinephrine, vasopressin, and renin activity were suppressed similarly. Mean arterial pressure decreased by 9 mmHg ( P < 0.05) during HDT and was unchanged during WI, and heart rate decreased more during HDT ( P < 0.05). Arterial pulse pressure increased considerably more during HDT than during WI. In conclusion, the hypothesis was not confirmed because the cardiac atria were similarly distended by acute HDT and WI and the release of vasoconstrictor hormones were suppressed to the same extent.

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Cold-Water Immersion for Athletic Recovery: One Size Does Not Fit All

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2016-0095 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 2-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Jessica M. Stephens ◽

Shona Halson ◽

Joanna Miller ◽

Gary J. Slater ◽

Christopher D. Askew

Keyword(s):

Cold Water ◽

Enhanced Recovery ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Performance Outcomes ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

The Body ◽

Postexercise Recovery

The use of cold-water immersion (CWI) for postexercise recovery has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, but there is a dearth of strong scientific evidence to support the optimization of protocols for performance benefits. While the increase in practice and popularity of CWI has led to multiple studies and reviews in the area of water immersion, the research has predominantly focused on performance outcomes associated with postexercise CWI. Studies to date have generally shown positive results with enhanced recovery of performance. However, there are a small number of studies that have shown CWI to have either no effect or a detrimental effect on the recovery of performance. The rationale for such contradictory responses has received little attention but may be related to nuances associated with individuals that may need to be accounted for in optimizing prescription of protocols. To recommend optimal protocols to enhance athletic recovery, research must provide a greater understanding of the physiology underpinning performance change and the factors that may contribute to the varied responses currently observed. This review focuses specifically on why some of the current literature may show variability and disparity in the effectiveness of CWI for recovery of athletic performance by examining the body temperature and cardiovascular responses underpinning CWI and how they are related to performance benefits. This review also examines how individual characteristics (such as physique traits), differences in water-immersion protocol (depth, duration, temperature), and exercise type (endurance vs maximal) interact with these mechanisms.

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Cardiovascular responses to head-out water immersion in Korean women breath-hold divers

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-003-1010-4 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 91 (5-6) ◽

pp. 708-711 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sung Ho Yun ◽

Jang Kyu Choi ◽

Yang Saeng Park

Keyword(s):

Water Immersion ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Breath Hold ◽

Korean Women

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Cardiovascular responses to water immersion in humans: impact on cerebral perfusion

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.00516.2013 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 306 (9) ◽

pp. R636-R640 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Howard H. Carter ◽

Angela L. Spence ◽

Christopher J. A. Pugh ◽

Philip Ainslie ◽

Louise H. Naylor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Right Atrium ◽

Cerebral Perfusion ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cerebral Arteries ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Water Tank ◽

Systemic Hemodynamic ◽

Hemodynamic Variables ◽

The Right

Episodic increases in cerebrovascular perfusion and shear stress may have beneficial impacts on endothelial function that improve brain health. We hypothesized that water immersion to the level of the right atrium in humans would increase cerebral perfusion. We continuously measured, in 9 young (means ± SD, 24.6 ± 2.0 yr) healthy men, systemic hemodynamic variables along with blood flows in the common carotid and middle and posterior cerebral arteries during controlled filling and emptying of a water tank to the level of the right atrium. Mean arterial pressure (80 ± 9 vs. 91 ± 12 mmHg, P < 0.05), cardiac output (4.8 ± 0.7 vs. 5.1 ± 0.6 l/min, P < 0.05) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2, 39.5 ± 2.0 vs. 44.4 ± 3.5 mmHg, P < 0.05) increased with water immersion, along with middle (59 ± 6 vs. 64 ± 6 cm/s, P < 0.05) and posterior cerebral artery blood flow velocities (41 ± 9 vs. 44 ± 10 cm/s, P < 0.05). These changes were reversed when the tank was emptied. Water immersion is associated with hemodynamic and PetCO2 changes, which increase cerebral blood velocities in humans. This study provides an evidence base for future studies to examine the potential additive effect of exercise in water on improving cerebrovascular health.

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