Bruce Becker, M.D. - Washington State University
Aquatic immersion produces dramatic effects upon the human body, and these effects are quite dependent upon immersion temperatures. In 2007, we studied the effects of immersion temperatures upon the autonomic nervous system, the circulatory system, and the cardiovascular systems in a group of healthy young adults. We found a very major increase in peripheral circulation, a decrease in blood pressure and alternations in the sympathetic nervous systems that mimic the relaxation response during warm water immersion. We presented these results at the 2007 World Aquatic Health Conference. During the past summer, we have assessed the same physiologic variables in older adults (ages 40-65) using a similar research protocol to compare the changes seen with those found in our younger adult subjects.
We will be presenting this new data, comparing the results seen in the younger population with the results gathered from the older adults. There are some remarkable differences, and the potential health implications of both the differences and the similarities of responses will be discussed.
