Water Immersion and Cardiac Function in Heart Failure
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised cross over trial measuring the effects of a programme of repeated water immersion on cardiac function in heart failure patients.
IRAS ID
128557
Contact name
John Buckley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Chester
Research summary
Water decreases joint loading, thus offering alternative exercise modes for those who have difficulty exercising on land. This creates the perception is that water-based exercise is easier; however, for those with circulatory disease such as chronic heart failure, the increase in hydrostatic pressure from simple water immersion (WI) can reduce heart function. This occurs when hydrostatic pressure causes redistribution of blood upwards into the vessels of the chest cavity and the heart. However, a number of studies have demonstrated that in more significant heart failure patients, simple WI is safe.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether a programme of repeated, simple WI (not exercise) for heart failure patients will improve the ability of the heart to cope with the increased pressure. Due to the novelty of the research and methods involved, the purpose of this study will be to explore the feasibility of a much larger, future study.
Four heart failure patients will be recruited from the Countess of Chester Hospital (COCH) cardiac rehabilitation programme, and two will be randomly selected to undertake the normal cardiac rehabilitation run by COCH, and the other two the WI programme, for four weeks. The WI patients will then begin normal cardiac rehabilitation for four weeks, and the other two will be offered WI for four weeks.
The WI programme will consist of patients standing in a swimming pool for ten minutes; this time will increase by 1.5 minutes per session to twenty minutes by the final session. Heart function of the patients will be measured using underwater echocardiography to compare with function on land. Other measurements taken will include functional capacity using an incremental treadmill walk test run by the COCH and ECGs (electrocardiograms). These measurements will be taken at the start, crossover point and at the end of the two programmes.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0528
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion