Changes in cardiac function before and after hot water immersion and endurance exercise in middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity

Locatelli, JC, Costa, JG, Wigati, KW, Collis, JJ, Naylor, LH, Jones, H ORCID: 0000-0001-8282-1459, George, K ORCID: 0000-0002-5119-6651 and Green, DG Changes in cardiac function before and after hot water immersion and endurance exercise in middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity. European Journal of Applied Physiology. ISSN 1439-6319 (Accepted)

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Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the acute effects of ecologically valid hot water immersion (HWI) and endurance exercise (END) interventions on indices of left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function in middle-aged individuals with overweight or obesity.

Methods: Twenty-five (15♀, 10♂) individuals were recruited. A single session of HWI (40ºC for 30 minutes with the water level at the sternum) and END (cycling 30 mins at 60-70% of max heart rate [HR]) were carried out in randomised order, separated by at least 72 hours. Core body temperature (Tc) and HR were monitored throughout each session. Blood pressure and ventricular parameters, including LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), were assessed before and after each session.

Results: A significant increase in Tc was greater after HWI (Δ0.91±0.32ºC) than END (Δ0.72±0.29ºC; interaction: p=0.004). Similarly, HR increased more after HWI than END (Δ33±14 vs Δ25±12 bpm; p=0.042) and HWI induced greater reductions in post-intervention SBP (Δ-5.7±10.0 vs Δ0.6±6.6 mmHg; p=0.019) and DBP (Δ-9.2±9.2 vs Δ-1.5±5.1 mmHg; p=0.001). There was a greater increase in LV GLS following HWI (Δ-2.5±2.3 %) compared to END (Δ-0.76±2.09 %; p=0.008) and a significant increase in TAPSE after HWI (Δ3.95±4.32 mm; p<0.001).

Conclusion: We observed greater increases in Tc, HR, and post-exercise LV and RV function following a HWI intervention compared to acute END. The physiological and practical importance of these differences should be explored further in long-term chronic programs in populations that could benefit from an alternative to the traditional END for cardiovascular benefits.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences (RISES); 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; Sport Sciences; 3202 Clinical sciences; 3208 Medical physiology; 4207 Sports science and exercise
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Springer
Date of acceptance:	27 August 2026
Date Deposited:	28 Aug 2026 12:27
Last Modified:	28 Aug 2026 12:27
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29221

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