Effect of water exercise on central arteries distensibility in elderly subjects

随着年龄的增长，中央动脉变得僵硬，扩张性降低。中央动脉扩张性降低是心肌梗死等心血管疾病的危险因素之一。据报道，运动可以改善中央动脉扩张性的降低。然而，在老年人中很受欢迎的水上运动对中央动脉扩张性的影响迄今尚未被调查。此外，水温对水上运动效果的影响尚不清楚。本研究表明，温水浸泡或30℃水温水运动对老年人中心动脉扩张性无显著影响，而38℃水温水运动显著改善老年人的中心动脉扩张性。

The central arteries are stiffened and their distensibility decreases with aging. Decrease in central arteries distensibility is one of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction. It has been reported that exercise improves decrease in central arteries distensibility. However, the effect of water exercise, which is popular in elderly people, on central arteries distensibility has not been investigated so far. Moreover, influence of water temperature to the effect of water exercise has not been unclear. The present study showed that warm water immersion or water exercise in 30°C water temperature had no significant effects on central arteries distensibility, while, water exercise in 38°C water temperature improved central arteries distensibility significantly in elderly subjects.