Exploring the Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Cardiovascular Function in Older Adults

NCT04308057 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ER5320861
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Cardiovascular ageing is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Aquatic exercise is being considered as a co-adjuvant form of rehabilitation, but there is limited evidence for its cardiovascular risk-reduction properties for older people. Our study aims to address this by exploring the cardiovascular effects of long-term aquatic exercise in older adults in comparison to those who are either inactive or engaged in land-based/mixed training by measurement of micro- and macro-circulation.

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Nitric oxide-mediated, macro (arterial)- circulatory function.

  We will use FMD as a measure of endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated, macro (arterial)- circulatory function. Baseline scanning to assess resting vessel diameter will be recorded over 3 minutes, following a 10-minute resting period. A rapid inflation-deflation pneumatic cuff placed immediately distal to the elbow joint will be used to as an FMD stimulus.

  Baseline.

• Nitric oxide-mediated, macro (arterial)- circulatory function.

  We will use FMD as a measure of endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated, macro (arterial)- circulatory function. Baseline scanning to assess resting vessel diameter will be recorded over 3 minutes, following a 10-minute resting period. A rapid inflation-deflation pneumatic cuff placed immediately distal to the elbow joint will be used to as an FMD stimulus.

  8 weeks.

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Microcirculatory function

  Baseline.

• Microcirculatory function

  8 weeks.

• Anthropometry - 1

  Baseline.

• Anthropometry - 2

  Baseline.

• Anthropometry - 1

  8 weeks.

Study Arms (4)

Aquatic Exercise

General inclusion criteria included being over 55 years of age and normotensive (e.g., \<140/90 mm Hg). Specifically for this group, we include participants engaging in swimming or other aquatic, primarily aerobic-based, training regimes for more than 2 times a week, for more than 6 months, at the time of the assessments.

Land-based exercise

General inclusion criteria included being over 55 years of age and normotensive (e.g., \<140/90 mm Hg). Specifically for this group, we include participants engaging in land-based, primarily aerobic training regimes (e.g. aerobic exercise) for more than 2 times a week, for a period longer than 6 months, at the time of the assessments.

Mixed exercise

General inclusion criteria included being over 55 years of age and normotensive (e.g., \<140/90 mm Hg). Specifically for this group, we include participants engaging in both land-based and aquatic, primarily aerobic, exercise regimes on an equal basis, for more than 6 months.

Sedentary.

General inclusion criteria included being over 55 years of age and normotensive (e.g., \<140/90 mm Hg). Specifically for this group, we include participants who are sedentary (e.g., defined as undertaking less than 60 min of structured/planned physical activity per week), for a period longer than 6 months.

Procedure: Aquatic exercise

Interventions

Aquatic exercise PROCEDURE

Participants belonging to Group D (sedentary group) will be randomised 1-to-1 between remaining sedentary (n=20) and following a self-managed, 8-week, aquatic-based exercise programme (n=20). The latter group will be offered an 8-week access to pool facilities. For Group D participants, all baseline assessments will be repeated at 8 weeks.

Sedentary.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 55 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Group A (n=20) consists of participants engaging in swimming or other aquatic, primarily aerobic-based, training regimes for more than 2 times a week, for more than 6 months, at the time of the assessments. Similarly, Group B (n=20) consists of participants engaging in land-based, primarily aerobic training regimes (e.g. aerobic exercise) for more than 2 times a week, for a period longer than 6 months, at the time of the assessments. Group C (n=20) consists of participants who were cengaging in both land-based and aquatic, primarily aerobic, exercise regimes on an equal basis, for more than 6 months, while Group D (n=40) consists of people who were sedentary (e.g., defined as undertaking less than 60 min of structured/planned physical activity per week), for a period longer than 6 months.

You may qualify if:

• being over 55 years of age and normotensive (e.g., \<140/90 mm Hg).

You may not qualify if:

• any overt chronic disease which would affect microvascular functioning,
• anaemia (irrespective of whether an iron supplementation course is followed or not)
• a recent (3 months' ago) major surgery
• None of the participants were undertaking high intensity interval training of any form.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sheffield Hallam University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield, Yorkshire, S10 2BP, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases

Interventions

Aquatic Therapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hydrotherapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Markos Klonizakis, D.Phil.

  Sheffield Hallam University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2020
• First Posted: March 13, 2020
• Study Start: December 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: February 19, 2021
• Study Completion: August 30, 2022
• Last Updated: September 15, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)