Year

2021

Degree Name

Master of Philosophy

Department

School of Medicine

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether the addition of warm or cold hydrotherapy to exercise training can provide similar or greater benefits for cardiometabolic health compared to time-matched exercise training. Primary Aim: To compare the effects of short-term exercise training coupled with warm (WWI) or cold water-immersion (CWI), and time-matched exercise alone, on improving exercise capacity and fitness outcomes. It was hypothesised that post-exercise WWI would improve V̇O2max to a similar extent to time-matched exercise, and greater extent than CWI. Secondary Aim: To compare the effects of short-term exercise training with post-exercise WWI or CWI, and time-matched exercise alone, on enhancing glucose uptake and improving metabolism. It was hypothesised that post-exercise WWI would improve glucose regulation to a similar extent to time-matched exercise, and greater extent than CWI. Methods: 24 healthy participants (18-40 years) were randomised to complete two of three training interventions (12 x sessions; 4-week washout between): i) EXS - 60 min of steady state cycling at 70% of max heart rate (HR), ii) WWI – 30 min of steady state cycling at 70% max HR followed by 30 min warm water (~38-40°C) immersion, and/or iii) CWI - 30 min of steady state cycling at 70% max HR followed by 30 min cold water (~10-12°C) immersion. A pre and post Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT; blood glucose measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) and Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER via indirect calorimetry), determined post-prandial (PP) glucose and metabolic flexibility, defined as the slope of fasting to PP. A pre and post 20-min time trial (max distance) and V̇O2max test measured cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: Exercise for 60 minutes increased V̇O2max significantly more than when the second half of exercise was substituted with cold water immersion but not more than warm water immersion. Exercise performance, indicated by work trial distance and power, increased with all interventions. No metabolic indices were improved differentially by the three interventions, although the addition of warm water immersion to shorter duration exercise may attenuate peak postprandial glucose responses to an oral glucose challenge.

FoR codes (2008)

1101 MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND METABOLOMICS, 1106 HUMAN MOVEMENT AND SPORTS SCIENCE, 110602 Exercise Physiology, 110604 Sports Medicine

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Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.