Influence of gender on resting cardiovascular parameters of apparently healthy adults on land and in water
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34058/njmr.v16i1.78Keywords:
Arterial Pressure, Body Mass Index, Gender, Standing, HydrotherapyAbstract
Background: The hydro-pool is widely used for health promotion and rehabilitation, yet information regarding resting cardiovascular responses of male and female adults to acute water immersion is scarce.Objective: This study evaluated gender influence on resting Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and pulse rate of apparently healthy adults during acute water immersion in erect standing (ES) at xiphisternum level.
Methods: 193 healthy adults (96 males and 97 females) who were non-regular swimmers participated in this study. Participants’ Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using their height and body weight measured on land. The SBP, DBP and pulse rate were measured on land and in the hydro-pool after 2 to 3 minutes of immersion using an electronic blood pressure monitor. The MAP was calculated using the formula: MAP= DBP+ (SBP-DBP/3). Data were analysed using paired sampled t test and mixed design two-way ANOVA at p<0.05.
Results: Participants’ ages ranged between 18 and 38 years (mean age = 22.4±2.7 years). The BMI of male and female participants were not significantly different. Male and female groups experienced significant reductions in MAP (5.9mmHg vs 4.9mmHg), DBP (7.7mmHg vs 5.4mmHg) and pulse rate (4.4bpm vs 8.1bpm), respectively, during water immersion. However, SBP on land and during water immersion for both groups were not significantly different. There were significant main effects for all the cardiovascular parameters measured but significant interraction effects (environment x gender) were found for MAP and SBP only.
Conclusion: Human cardiovascular responses to acute immersion in a hydro-pool is influenced by gender with respect to MAP and SBP. This should always be considered during hydrotherapy.
References
Akerkar, S., 2001. Gender and participation: Overview report. Institute of Development Studies, ISBN 1 85864 385 6. Available through http://www.bridge.idsac.uk/reports/cep-part-rep.pdf [November 2001].
Becker, B.E., 2009. Aquatic therapy scientific foundations and clinical rehabilitation applications. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,1, pp. 859-872.
Eng, J., 2003. Sample size estimation: How many individuals should be studied? Radiology, 227, pp. 309-313.
Giaquinto, S., Ciotola, E., and Margutti, F. 2007. Gait in the early days after knee and hip arthroplasty: A comparison. Disability and Rehabilitation, 29(9): pp. 737-742. Cited at <http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-condition -of- access.pdf> [Accessed 23 April 2008].
Hordinsky, J.R., Gebhardt, U., Wegmann. H.M., and Schafer, G. 1981. Cardiovascular and biochemical response to simulated space flight entry. Aviatiation Space and Environmental Medicine. 52, pp. 1618
Irion, J.M., 2009. Aquatic properties and therapeutic interventions. In: L.T. Brody,, P.R. Geigle, (eds)Aquatic exercises for rehabilitation and training. pp 26-34.
Iwamoto, J., Sagawa, S., Fajima, F., Miki, K., and Shiraki, K., 1988. Critical temperature during water immersion at various atmospheric pressures. Journal of Applied Physiology, 64(6), pp. 2444- 2448.
Mannino, J.A., Kaufman, W.C., 1986. Comparative cold responses of men and women to external and internal cold stimuli. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, 57(1), pp. 27-30.
McArdle, W.D., Toner, M.M., Magel, J.R., Spina R.J., and Pandolf, K.B., 1992. Thermal responses of men and women during cold-water immersion: Influence of exercise intensity. European Journal of Applied Physiology 65, pp. 265-270.
Shiraishi, M., Schou, M., Gybel, M., Christensen, N.J., and Norsk, P., 2002, Comparison of acute cardiovascular responses to water immersion and head-down tilt in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 92, pp. 264268.
Stark, M.A., Rudell, B., Huas, G., 2008, Observing positions and movements in hydrotherapy: A pilot study. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Neonatal Nursing, 37,pp. 116-122.
Ward, E.J., Mcintyre, A., Kessel, G.V., and Hague, W.M., 2005. Immediate blood pressure changes and aquatic physiotherapy. Hypertension in Pregnancy, 24, pp. 93-102.
Watenpaugh, D.E., Pump, B,, Bie, P., and Norsk, P., 2000. Does gender influence human cardiovascular and renal responses to water immersion? Journal of Applied Physiology, 89, pp. 621628.
White D.D., Gotshall, R.W., and Tucker, A., 1996. Women have lower tolerance to lower body negative pressure than men. Journal of Applied Physiology, 80, pp. 11381143.
Wilcock, I., 2005. The effects of water immersion, active recovery and passive recovery on repeated bouts of explosive exercise and blood plasma fraction. Online published Thesis in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Health Science, submitted to Auckland University of Technology, Auckland. Available through https://www.aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/handle/10292/251
