Exercise and Repetitive Diving

University Hospital of Split

Status: Completed

Conditions: Endothelial Dysfunction; Neutrophil Activation; Venous Gas Emboli; Decompression Sickness

Treatments: Other: Aerobic running exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02118207

264816-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

SCUBA diving frequently involves repetitive exposures over multiple days. The goal of this study was to see how exercise impacts microparticles (MPs), endothelial function, and venous gas emboli (VGE) over a series of dives.

16 divers in 2 groups each completed 6 dives. One group completed 3 control dives followed by 5 days rest then 3 dives preceded by exercise. The other group completed the opposite protocol. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) data and blood for MP analysis was collected before and after each dive. VGE were monitored via transthoracic echocardiography 30, 60, and 90 min after surfacing. Exercise before diving consisted of 60 min running outdoors including 8x4 min intervals at 90% VO2max effort.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Certified SCUBA diver
• Certified to dive by experienced Medical evaluator
• Must be able to run continuously for 45 min

Exclusion criteria

• Prior diagnosis of decompression sickness

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

Control dives 1st

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects in this group complete the first 3 dives as control dives and the second 3 dives preceded by aerobic exercise

Treatment:

Other: Aerobic running exercise

Predive exercise 1st

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects complete the first 3 dives preceded by the intervention of aerobic exercise and the second 3 with no exercise as control dives

Treatment:

Other: Aerobic running exercise