Preconditioning to reduce decompression stress in scuba divers

Peter Germonpré, Costantino Balestra

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Using ultrasound imaging, vascular gas emboli (VGE) are observed after asymptomatic scuba dives and are considered a key element in the potential development of decompression sickness (DCS). Diving is also accompanied with vascular dysfunction, as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Previous studies showed significant intersubject variability to VGE for the same diving exposure and demonstrated that VGE can be reduced with even a single pre-dive intervention. Several preconditioning methods have been reported recently, seemingly acting either on VGE quantity or on endothelial inflammatory markers. METHODS: Nine male divers who consistently showed VGE postdive performed a standardized deep pool dive (33 m/108 ft, 20 min in 33°C water temperature) to investigate the effect of three different preconditioning interventions: heat exposure (a 30-min session of dry infrared sauna), whole-body vibration (a 30-min session on a vibration mattress), and dark chocolate ingestion (30 g of chocolate containing 86% cocoa). Dives were made one day per week and interventions were administered in a randomized order. RESULTS: These interventions were shown to selectively reduce VGE, FMD, or both compared to control dives. Vibration had an effect on VGE (39.54%, SEM 16.3%) but not on FMD postdive. Sauna had effects on both parameters (VGE: 26.64%, SEM 10.4% FMD: 102.7%, SEM 2.1%), whereas chocolate only improved FMD (102.5%, SEM 1.7%). DISCUSSION: This experiment, which had the same subjects perform all control and preconditioning dives in wet but completely standardized diving conditions, demonstrates that endothelial dysfunction appears to not be solely related to VGE.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)114-120
    Number of pages7
    JournalAerospace Medicine and Human Performance
    Volume88
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2017

    Keywords

    • Chocolate
    • Decompression illness
    • Diving
    • Preconditioning
    • Prevention
    • Protective interventions
    • Sauna
    • Vibration

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Preconditioning to reduce decompression stress in scuba divers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this