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Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise
Published on: February 20, 2017
Exercise during decompression reduces the amount of venous gas emboli
L W Jankowski1, R Y Nishi, D J Eaton
1Exercise Science Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Summary
Moderate, intermittent exercise during scuba diving decompression significantly reduces venous gas emboli (VGE). This exercise did not increase the incidence of decompression sickness, offering a potential safety enhancement for divers.
Area of Science:
- Diving Physiology
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Venous gas emboli (VGE) are a risk in scuba diving.
- Standard decompression procedures aim to minimize VGE.
- The role of exercise during decompression is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of moderate, intermittent exercise during decompression on Doppler-detectable VGE.
- To assess if exercise during decompression influences the incidence of decompression sickness.
Main Methods:
- 29 healthy male divers performed 45m air dives with standard decompression.
- Subjects engaged in either inactive, leg, or arm exercise during decompression.
- Venous gas emboli (VGE) were quantified using Doppler ultrasound and the Kisman Integrated Severity Score (KISS).
Main Results:
- Exercising divers (pooled arm and leg) showed significantly lower mean KISS scores compared to inactive controls.
- No significant difference in the incidence of decompression sickness was observed between exercising and inactive groups.
- Both arm and leg exercise interventions yielded similar reductions in VGE.
Conclusions:
- Moderate, intermittent exercise during decompression appears to reduce the amount of Doppler-detectable VGE after diving.
- Exercise during decompression may offer a method to mitigate VGE formation without increasing decompression sickness risk.
- Further research is warranted to optimize exercise protocols for diver safety.
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