The Effect of Water Immersion during Exercise on Cerebral Blood Flow

Pugh, Christopher J. A.; Sprung, Victoria S.; Ono, Kumiko; Spence, Angela L.; Thijssen, Dick H. J.; Carter, Howard; Green, Daniel

doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000000422

Cited by 48 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Due to the aquatic and dynamic environment utilized, we were unable to measure MAP on a beat‐by‐beat basis or during exercise. However, it has been previously shown that MAP has a greater increase during water‐immersed upright exercise compared to that which occurs on land (Pugh et al, ). Furthermore, we only report data from one swimming style (i.e., breast‐stroke).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Uniquely, the current study delineated the factors behind changes in MCAv mean during breast‐stroke swimming. Previous studies have illustrated that upright aquatic exercise (i.e., walking/running and box stepping) increases MCAv mean across a range of intensities (Pugh et al, ; Parfitt et al, ), which has been contributed, in part, to changes in PETCO 2 (Pugh et al, ). Furthermore, we illustrated that swimming shows a similar MCAv mean response as for other dynamic large muscle‐group exercise (unpublished data from our lab).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…For example, hydrostatic pressure increases stroke volume and mean arterial pressure (MAP) despite the counteractive decrease in heart rate (HR). These cardiac‐related factors, in combination with immersion‐associated CO 2 retention may be the cause of increased CBV during water immersion (Carter et al, ; Pugh et al, ). Additional factors different from land‐based or other water‐based exercise, may further influence cerebral perfusion control; for example, prone posture, hydrostatic‐related changes in systolic BP and MAP, intrinsic and extrinsic influences on stroke volume, and increased neurovascular coupling due to increased somatosensory and motor involvement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Swimming‐related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function

et al. 2019

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Both acute and regular exercise influence vascular and cognitive function. Upright aquatic exercise increases mean middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAvmean) and has been suggested as favorable for cerebrovascular adaptations. However, MCAvmean has not been reported during swimming. Thus, we examined the cerebrovascular and cognitive effects of swimming. Ten land‐based athletes (22 ± 5 years) and eight swimmers (19 ± 1 years) completed three cognitive tasks and four conditions that were used to independently and collectively delineate the swimming‐related factors (i.e., posture, immersion, CO2 retention [end‐tidal CO2; PETCO2], and motor involvement). Measurements of MCAvmean and PETCO2 were taken throughout each condition. Prone posture increased MCAvmean by 11% (P < 0.01 vs. upright land). Water immersion independently increased MCAvmean when upright (12%; P < 0.01) but not prone (P = 0.76). The consequent rise in PETCO2 during head‐out, breast‐stroke swimming (50% heart rate range) independently increased MCAvmean by 14% (P < 0.01), while the motor involvement of swimming per se did not significantly change MCAvmean (P = 0.32). While accounting for sex, swimmers had ~17% lower MCAvmean during all rest conditions (P ≤ 0.05). However, in a subset of participants, both groups had similar internal carotid artery diameters (P = 0.99) and velocities (P = 0.97). Water immersion per se did not alter cognition (P ≥ 0.15), but 20 min of moderate‐intensity swimming improved visuomotor performance by 4% (P = 0.03), regardless of athlete group (P = 0.12). In conclusion, breast‐stroke swimming increased MCAvmean mostly due to postural and PETCO2 effects, with minimal contributions from water immersion or motor activity. Lastly, swimming improved cognitive functioning acutely, regardless of athlete group. Future research should explore the chronic effects of swimming on cerebrovascular function and cognition, particularly in aging.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Swimming‐related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function

et al. 2019

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“…Recently this concept has been illustrated via water immersion, where CBF increases in a similar magnitude to that obtained during landbased exercise, 128 and more so when water immersion was combined with exercise. 129 How this then translates to longerterm effects (i.e., after a training intervention) has not yet been reported, but the combined strategy may result in greater improvements in cerebrovascular function than previously reported from a standard land-and aerobic-based training study. 130 Such a training strategy may be a powerful adjunct to increase the shear-stress stimulus for clinical populations with impaired mobility as a consequence of injury (e.g., hip fracture) or large body mass (e.g., obese).…”

Section: Optimizing Cerebrovascular Adaptation Through Brain-targetedmentioning

confidence: 96%

High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Cerebrovascular Health: Curiosity, Cause, and Consequence

Lucas

Cotter

Brassard

et al. 2015

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab

162

179

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Exercise is a uniquely effective and pluripotent medicine against several noncommunicable diseases of westernised lifestyles, including protection against neurodegenerative disorders. High-intensity interval exercise training (HIT) is emerging as an effective alternative to current health-related exercise guidelines. Compared with traditional moderate-intensity continuous exercise training, HIT confers equivalent if not indeed superior metabolic, cardiac, and systemic vascular adaptation. Consequently, HIT is being promoted as a more time-efficient and practical approach to optimize health thereby reducing the burden of disease associated with physical inactivity. However, no studies to date have examined the impact of HIT on the cerebrovasculature and corresponding implications for cognitive function. This review critiques the implications of HIT for cerebrovascular function, with a focus on the mechanisms and translational impact for patient health and well-being. It also introduces similarly novel interventions currently under investigation as alternative means of accelerating exercise-induced cerebrovascular adaptation. We highlight a need for studies of the mechanisms and thereby also the optimal dose-response strategies to guide exercise prescription, and for studies to explore alternative approaches to optimize exercise outcomes in brain-related health and disease prevention. From a clinical perspective, interventions that selectively target the aging brain have the potential to prevent stroke and associated neurovascular diseases.

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“…Exercising in water has recently been promoted as a method by which to enhance shear-stress-mediated vascular adaptation in the brain (Pugh et al 2014). Pugh and colleagues demonstrated greater increases in CBF velocity (by ß10%) during water-based activity compared with matched-intensity land-based activity.…”

Section: Exploring Novel Targeted Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain train to combat brain drain; focus on exercise strategies that optimize neuroprotection

Burley

Bailey

Marley

et al. 2016

Experimental Physiology

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The topic of this review is to consider innovative exercise strategies that optimize neuroprotection in order to combat cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease in older age. r What advances does it highlight?The review summarizes current understanding around exercise mode, duration, frequency and intensity, and then highlights adaptive roles of select stressors that have equal if not indeed greater capacity than exercise per se to induce health-related adaptation in the brain. These stressors include, but are not exclusively limited to, hydrostatic and thermal stress, hypoxia, nutritional supplementation and cognitive loading, and are effective by targeting specific pathways that collectively contribute towards improved brain structure and function.The prevalence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. stroke and dementia) is increasing. Numerous studies show that regular exercise has beneficial effects on brain health in clinical and non-clinical populations, yet adherence to public health exercise guidelines is notoriously poor. Recently, novel exercise strategies have been investigated to allow for more individualized and prescriptive approaches that target the key mechanistic pathways that allow exercise to mediate adaptation.

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The Effect of Water Immersion during Exercise on Cerebral Blood Flow

Abstract: Our findings suggest that water-based exercise augments cerebral blood flow, relative to land-based exercise of similar intensity, in healthy humans.

Cited by 48 publications

References 35 publications

Swimming‐related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function

Swimming‐related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function

High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Cerebrovascular Health: Curiosity, Cause, and Consequence

Brain train to combat brain drain; focus on exercise strategies that optimize neuroprotection

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