Cardiovascular Diseases
Conditions
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.
Interventions
PROCEDUREAquatic exercise
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.
Sponsors
Sheffield Hallam University
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
OTHER
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* being over 55 years of age and normotensive (e.g., \<140/90 mm Hg).
Exclusion criteria
* 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.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nitric oxide-mediated, macro (arterial)- circulatory function. | Baseline. | 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. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropometry - 2 | Baseline. | Body mass will be measured. |
| Microcirculatory function | Baseline. | Skin blood flow will be measured as cutaneous red blood cell flux using a Laser Doppler Flowmeter (LDF). Local thermal hyperaemia will be induced using a heating disc surrounding the probe. The probe will be attached to the skin using a double-sided adhesion sticker. Participants will be rested in a supine position in a temperature-controlled room with a constant ambient temperature of 24° C for 35 minutes. Heart rate and diastolic and systolic blood pressure was recorded from the left arm at 5-minute intervals throughout the protocol (Dinamap Dash 2500, GE Healthcare, USA). Baseline skin blood flow data will be recorded for 5 minutes with the local heating disc temperature set at 30° C. Following this, rapid local heating will be initiated to obtain maximal vasodilation and the temperature will be increased by 1° C every 10 seconds until 42° C was reached. This will then be maintained for 30 minutes following, which the test will be completed. |
| Anthropometry - 1 | Baseline. | Stature, waist and hip circumferences will be measured (all in cms). |
| SF-IPAQ | Baseline. | The SF-IPAQ questionnaire will be completed, to assess physical activity levels. |
| EQ-5D-5L | Baseline. | The EQ5D-5L questionnaire will be completed, to support assessment of quality of life. |
| Feasibility outcome - 1 | Baseline | Recruitment rate (% of those expressing an interest, being actually recruited). |
| Feasibility outcome - 2 | 8 weeks | Adherence rate (% of those recruited completing at least 75% of the prescribed number of exercise sessions). |
| Feasibility outcome - 3 | 8 weeks | Retention rate (% of those recruited completing the post-intervention assessments). |
| Q-Risk | Baseline. | The online Q-Risk questionnaire will be competed, which assesses the risk of cardiovascular disease risk |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed