Arterial blood pressure in SCUBA underwater swimming

Uwe Hoffmann, Nils Bury, Rainer Meyer

Publikation: Beitrag in Buch/Bericht/KonferenzbandKonferenzbeitrag - Abstract in KonferenzbandForschungBegutachtung

Abstract

Title: Arterial blood pressure in SCUBA underwater swimming

Author: Dr. Uwe Hoffmann (German Sport University)

Co-Author: Nils Bury (German Sport University), Rainer Meyer (University of Bonn)

Text:
Water immersion affects arterial blood pressure (BP) particular through redistribution of blood volume, facial cooling, and thermo-regulation effects. Therefore, the responses to typical efforts in SCUBA diving are of vital interest. However, little information is known about the BP reaction under water and its consequences for diving safety and diving fitness. Aim of this study was to collect blood pressure data during a standardized under water swimming test with SCUBA and to compare these data with cycle ergometry in the same range of exertion.
21 subjects performed an underwater swimming test at 0.4 m s-1, 0.6 m s-1 and 0.8 m s-1 for 3 min each in a pool of 5 m depth with SCUBA. After each workload the subjects stopped swimming for 2 min and the BP measurement was initiated on the bottom of the pool. After 5 min of recovery an additional measurement was performed. All subjects also performed a cycle ergometry in supine position at workloads of 50 W, 100 W and 150 W. BP measurements followed the same protocol as in the underwater experiments.
Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BPsys, BPdia) were measured with a full automatic blood pressure monitor based on an oscillometric method (Mobil-O-Graph; IEM, Germany). For underwater applications, the device was encapsulated in a waterproofed box which was equalized to the ambient pressure.
Comparing similar steps in workload no significant differences in HR were found between underwater swimming and ergometry. In contrast, both BPsys and BPdia were found to be lower in the underwater swimming test. The differences of means ranged between 3 and 22 mmHg.
It can be concluded that dry ergometry results on BP control cannot be extended to underwater swimming. Therefore, further studies monitoring divers with BP dysregulation are recommended.


Corresponding Author:
Name: Dr. Uwe Hoffmann
Organization: German Sport University
Street: Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6
ZIP: D-50933
City: Koeln
Country: Germany
Email: u.hoffmann@dshs-koeln.de
Phone: +49 221 4982 2910

OriginalspracheDeutsch
TitelWorld Congress of Drowning Prevention 2013 : Conference Abstracts
Erscheinungsdatum2013
Seiten155
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2013
VeranstaltungWorld Congress of Drowning Prevention 2013 - Potsdam, Deutschland
Dauer: 21.10.201322.10.2013

Zitation