Comparative effects of two hydrotherapy techniques on the cardiovascular
Item
- Title
- Comparative effects of two hydrotherapy techniques on the cardiovascular
- Author(s)
- Gaffney Liam
- Abstract
- Hydrotherapy has been used as a treatment modality throughout the ages. The cold compress has been used as part of a general treatment of such conditions as fever, syncope, endocarditis, pericarditis, to name but a few. Scientific research began in America with Kellogg before 1900. Apart from Kellogg's work, there are few sources of scientific research on the cold compress. Can a short, cold compress application to the chest and back affect heart rate, blood pressure and general well being in healthysubjects? The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects on the cardiovascular system and general well being upon application of a cold compress to two areas of the human body. The two areas chosen were the thoracic spine and the precordial chestarea. A small, sample population of twenty subjects was chosen for the experiment from the BCNO student population. Each individual was tested for fifty minutes with the short application of the cold compress to both regions of the body and the abovemeasurements were collected. The Student t-test was applied to the collected physiological measurements and results were documented on the psychological well being from a General Health Questionnaire. Using the paired two-tailed t-test (p< 0.05 = significant), it was shown that the application of the cold pack to the thoracic spine and precordial area caused a decrease in the heart rate and systolic blood pressure and no change in the diastolic blood pressure. On removal of the cold pack from both areas of the body there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and no change in heart rate or diastolic blood pressure. A further twenty minutes later there was a significant increase in the diastolic blood pressure with no significant change in systolic blood pressure or heart rate. Data collected from the general health questionnaire before the experiment and one week later did not reveal any significant change in general health or well being in the sample population. The study also indicates the need for further research into the physiological and psychological effects of hydrotherapy in symptomatic subjects.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2002
- Date Submitted
- 1.11.2003 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 59
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 12997
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Keywords
- Hydrotherapy,Naturopathy,Cardiovascular System
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Gaffney Liam, “Comparative effects of two hydrotherapy techniques on the cardiovascular”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 22, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/1341