The effect of cold water immersion on electrocardiogram recordings in healthy male rugby union players

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dc.contributor.authorPalmer, Brandon
dc.date.accessioned2022-01-03T11:36:36Z
dc.date.available2022-01-03T11:36:36Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Medicine) in the field of Sport and Exercise Science to the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Although cold water immersion therapy (CWI) is a popular recovery therapy used to accelerate the recovery process in rugby players, the cardiovascular response to cold water immersion places strain on the heart. However, little is known about the cardiac electrical effects due to cold water temperatures. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of cold water immersion therapy at two different water temperatures on cardiac electrical activity in male university rugby players. Methods: A prospective, randomised crossover study design was used to investigate the effects of CWI therapy at two different water temperatures (8ºC and 14ºC) measuring cardiac electrical effects and heart rate variability of male university rugby players. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was used to measure the cardiac electrical effects and a Zephyr™ BioHarness™ was used to measure heart rate variability in the participants. Heart rate variability, blood pressure, and heart rate data were tested for normality. Continuous data were analysed using Statistica 12 and presented as means and standard deviations. Electrocardiogram data was assessed and presented as frequencies and proportions. Significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Significant lower root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSDD) (P <0 .00001), and standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) (P<0 .00001) were observed during the cold water immersion period at both 8ºC and 14ºC compared to pre-immersion period. Additionally, the stress index was significantly lower during the cold water immersion period compared to the pre-test values (P=0.000754) at both cold water temperatures. This indicates that there was a greater parasympathetic response during the cold water period. With regards to systolic blood pressure, the initial cold water immersion readings were significantly higher compared to pre-tests for both water temperatures. During the post cold water immersion period (or the post-test period), recorded measurements returned to baseline measures. Importantly, no ECG abnormalities were detected during the cold water immersion tests. Conclusion: These findings showed no cardiac electrical activity abnormalities with cold water immersion therapy in rugby players. Heart rate variability during cold water immersion is significantly higher compared to the non-immersion pre-test period, due to a larger parasympathetic response. This study showed that the parasympathetic system has a predominant effect on the body compared to the sympathetic nervous system during cold water immersion therapyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianTL (2021)en_ZA
dc.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/32534
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.schoolSchool of Therapeutic Sciencesen_ZA
dc.titleThe effect of cold water immersion on electrocardiogram recordings in healthy male rugby union playersen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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